Date:19/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/19/stories/2007021902451400.htm

International

Israel, U.S. rebuff Makkah accord

Atul Aneja

Negative signals dampen Palestinian spirits

DUBAI: The U.S. and Israel appear to have rebuffed the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the leaders of Palestinian factions to form a national unity government.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at an Israeli Cabinet meeting on Sunday the Palestinian power-sharing agreement reached during the Makkah conference earlier this month did not meet the benchmarks set by the Quartet group.

The Quartet comprising the U.S., European Union, Russia and the U.N. has said the Palestinian Government must recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept past accords so that the peace process can begin.

In Makkah, the Palestinian faction, Hamas had agreed to "respect" previous peace deals between the Palestinians and Israel.

Mr. Olmert pointed out "a Palestinian government that won't accept the Quartet conditions won't receive recognition and cooperation."

Olmert speaks to Bush

He said he had spoken to U.S. President George Bush and, "The American and Israeli positions are totally identical on this issue."

Mr. Olmert made his observations during the visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

On Monday, Ms. Rice will participate in a three-way conference with Mr. Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The negative signals from Israel and the U.S. have already dampened spirits in the Palestinian camp.

The scheduled press conference that would have followed Ms. Rice's meeting with Mr. Abbas on Sunday has been cancelled.

A joint news conference after Monday's meeting has also not been scheduled. Mr. Abbas' adviser Nabil Abul Rudeineh said the Palestinian President had on Saturday told a visiting senior U.S. State Department official that the Makkah accord was the only basis to bring the Palestinian factions together. Meanwhile, Mr. Bush has telephoned Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who had staked his personal prestige in convening the Makkah conference.