BICOM

Speaking to a delegation from the Israeli left-wing party Meretz yesterday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that in any peace settlement the Palestinian state would agree to be demilitarised.

“We don’t need planes or missiles. All we need is a strong police force,” said Abbas. “On the other hand, we want sovereignty and independence. I was criticized for saying that I don’t want a single Israeli soldier or settler in the Palestinian state. I meant any Israeli that is part of the occupation. I didn’t mean that I don’t want Jews or Israelis in the Palestinian state. We’ll welcome them as tourists or as people coming to do business. We just don’t want occupation forces,” Abbas added.

The Palestinian President also said to the Meretz MKs that a negotiated peace agreement to include a clause stating that the conflict with Israel is over. “People say that after signing a peace agreement we will still demand Haifa, Acre and Safed,” Abbas said. “That is not true. Signing the agreement will signal the end of the conflict.”

According to a report in Haaretz, the meeting with Abbas was attended by Meretz’s Knesset members — Ilan Gilon, Nitzan Horowitz, Michal Rosin, Issawi Freij, Tamar Zandberg and Gal-On. The meeting was also attended by former ambassador to South Africa Ilan Baruch, Gal-On’s diplomatic advisor who is also responsible for the party’s contact with the Palestinian Authority. During the meeting, Gal-On told Abbas that Meretz would provide Israel’s Prime Minister with a “safety net” if he makes progress in peace talks.

Abbas told the Meretz MKs that he is unhappy with the slow pace of negotiations with Israel, and that Israel has been refusing the Palestinian proposal that the teams hold intensive peace talks with meetings at least every two days.

Abbas also stressed that despite the fact that the talks are taking place between Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat at this stage, he has no problem meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to reports in Haaretz earlier this week, the next round of talks will be held in secret – including the timing and location. The next round of talks are expected to be held within two weeks.