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Israel rejects Palestinian draft statute

Jerusalem March 4. Dubbing it an "eyewash', Israel has vehemently criticised the draft Constitution prepared by a Palestinian team, saying it sought to perpetuate conflict and did not reflect an attitude of peace and conciliation.

The daily Ha'aretz quoted sources as saying that a legal analysis by Foreign Ministry experts has concluded that the Constitution's preamble includes terms hostile to Israel. Sources further said, ``We won't accept this and neither will the Americans. The terms do not reflect an end to the conflict but a perpetuation of hostilities.''

The preamble to the Constitution, which was drafted by the Palestinian Minister, Nabil Sha'ath, says that throughout history, ``the Palestinians conducted their legendary jihad against the colonial forces of the old and new world,'' and speaks of ``the depth of the wound caused by the superpowers in their handling of the Jewish problem and division of West Asia, where the Palestinians bore the burden of the arrangements made to reflect the balance of power and the results of the first World War, to this very day.''

Israel also rejects Article 2 of the draft, which says the Palestinian state will be established within the June 4, 1967 resolution or ``according to international decisions.'' According to Israeli Government sources, the Palestinians are ignoring previous agreements, which said the borders would be determined through negotiations and agreements between the sides.

However, Government sources are reported to have admitted that the article concerning refugees is relatively easy for Israel to accept, since it does not refer to a mass return of refugees to Israel.However, there are reservations regarding the authority vested in the President, giving him veto powers over laws. — UNI

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