Palestinians press Israel to accept troop pullback plan
Hamas striving to be stronger political force
June 6, 1998
Web posted at: 10:07 p.m. EDT (0207 GMT)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (CNN) -- Senior Palestinian officials
urged Israel Saturday to accept a U.S.-proposed plan to
withdraw its troops from the West Bank, warning that time was
running out for Israel to act.
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
appears close to accepting the U.S. plan, which would leave
40 percent of the West Bank under full or partial Palestinian
control and restrict the expansion of Jewish settlements.
The Palestinians already have accepted the initiative, which
never has been formally unveiled but has been widely
reported. U.S. officials expect a decision from Israel within
days, they said.
"We are not willing in any way to renegotiate the initiative ... I think the clock is ticking very fast."
Palestinian Cabinet minister Hanan Ashrawi
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On Friday, the Palestinian Cabinet in Gaza was briefed on two
days of talks this week in London by Palestinian negotiators
and U.S. envoy Dennis Ross. Israeli army radio reported that
Ross asked the Palestinians to accept some revisions in the
U.S. proposal.
But after the Cabinet meeting, Palestinians said they made no
changes, and that the next step rests with Israel and the
Clinton administration.
"We accepted the (U.S.) initiative, trying to be helpful in
getting the peace process back on track," Cabinet minister
Hanan Ashrawi said. "We are not willing in any way to renegotiate the initiative ... I think the clock is ticking very fast."
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said Israel
should swiftly accept the proposal or "we will continue to
see this government's policy of stealing (land) and wasting
time."
Hamas presents new political challenge
The Palestinians also are facing a new political challenge
from Hamas. The Palestinian group provides educational and
social services, but also has a militant wing that has sent
suicide bombers into Israeli cities.
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Arafat, left, and Yassin
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Hamas is launching a drive to become a serious political
force in the face of the stalled negotiations.
Recent polls show Palestinian frustration with the peace
process is rising along with support for Hamas. Many
Palestinians see this as a direct outcome of the stalled
peace negotiations.
"We are presenting an alternative for the negotiations but
not an alternative for the Palestinian Authority," Hamas
official Ismail Abu-Shanab explained. "We are not aiming at
the authority. We are aiming at liberating our land."
Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin, who was released from an
Israeli prison in October, is touring Arab and Muslim
capitals to build support and collect contributions.
Worried Israeli officials are reportedly thinking of barring
Yassin from returning to Gaza, a trip scheduled in 10 days.
Meanwhile, leaders of Jewish settlements are intensifying
their campaigns to oppose any pullbacks. If Netanyahu agrees
to a withdrawal, far-right lawmakers have pledged to try to
bring him down at the next opportunity by voting against the
government in a no-confidence motion.
Israeli media have speculated that Netanyahu, faced with
defections by the far right, may soon try to form a national
unity government with the opposition Labor Party as a junior
partner. Such a coalition would have to be formed immediately
after any parliamentary vote on a troop withdrawal.
Correspondent Jerrold Kessel and The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
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