Ramallah: America is to be directly involved in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, which are scheduled to take place on September 2, according to a senior Palestinian official.
"The Palestinian demand to have US involvement has been met," said Azzam Al Ahmad, a Member of Fatah's Central Committee and Head of the Fatah Block, at the Palestinian Legislative Council, adding that it would work to the Palestinians' advantage, while allowing the US to fulfil its sense of responsibility in relation to the talks.
According to Al Ahmad, the US presence will allow for compromises when negotiations between the two countries inevitably break down. "If Israel has the will, all the final issues can be resolved in a month," he stated. "The question is, does Israel really want peace? The right wing Israeli government in power is not ready to make concessions, so we really doubt it.
Double game
He pointed out that the Americans have so far refused to take sides. "The US is giving each party exactly what it wants and that's a bad start," he said. "They've been playing a double game. They want to satisfy the Israelis, so the Quartet statement was directed at the Palestinians. However, the press conference by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell, was directed at the Israelis.
"Israel has yet to issue a response to the Quartet statement," he noted, adding that the way the US were behaving in relation to the talks did not bode well for peace. "We hope the situation will be corrected on September 2 and that all matters will be made clear for all parties involved."Al Ahmad further pointed out that the US should have invited all the Quartet members to the negotiations, while increasing Arab representation.
"It was a mistake not to invite Qatar, which heads the Arab League Middle East Peace Process Committee. We hope this mistake will be corrected and an invitation sent as soon possible," he said.
He also believes that the entire peace process in the Middle East is running out of time and warned that the colony freeze expires on September 26.
He said the Americans have told the Palestinians the time frame would only be expanded as long as the direct talks were resumed. However, he warned that Israel must put a halt to all colony activities.
Suspending dialogue
"If Israel goes on with its colony activities during the direct talks, we will instantly suspend the negotiations," he stated, adding that the Americans are aware of this stance and are reportedly sympathetic.
Commenting on the Palestinian interior front, Al Ahmad said the only danger the Palestinians face is the Fatah- Hamas struggle.
"We cannot claim we've made achievements on the ground, otherwise the negotiations would not be taking place."
He added that only the Palestinians could resolve their differences and that there should be no need for mediation.
"The attitude of the other Palestinian factions does not count much when, in the history of Palestine, there's never been a decision taken unanimously," he said, adding that a positive outcome of the coming negotiations could only be implemented as long as the issue of Gaza is solved.
"Gaza to Israel is a curse and the negotiations revolve only around the issues of the West Bank and occupied east Jerusalem, but a Palestinian state without Gaza is not possible," he said.
Al Ahmad believes it's of strategic interest for Hamas to keep the struggle going. "Hamas does not want to end the Palestinian division," he stated.
