The Hindu : U.S. visit an acid test for Abbas: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 25, 2003

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International

U.S. visit an acid test for Abbas: Minister

JERUSALEM July 24. The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, could be ousted by the Palestinian Parliament unless he returns from Washington with substantial concessions from Israel, the Palestinian Information Minister has said.

The comments by Nabil Amr underscored the great expectations among Palestinians for Friday's planned meeting between the U.S. President, George W. Bush, and the politically beleaguered Mr. Abbas.

Although violence is markedly down since Palestinian militant groups declared a temporary halt to attacks on Israelis on June 29, frustrations are building on the Palestinian side about the halting progress along the U.S.-backed ``road map,'' a blueprint meant to lead to Palestinian statehood by 2005.

Israel has pulled out of parts of Gaza and the West Bank town of Bethlehem, but troops remain in other Palestinian towns; Israel has dismantled few West Bank settler outposts and has not frozen construction in established settlements, as required by the plan. Israel also refuses to release more than a few hundred of the estimated 7,700 Palestinian prisoners held for alleged involvement in terrorism. Israel says further progress is conditional on the Palestinian Authority dismantling and disarming militant groups, another step called for in the road map.

Mr. Abbas categorically refuses to do this for fear of sparking a civil war, and is asking for time to apply persuasion and win over the militants by showing results.

Mr. Bush is scheduled to meet the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, on July 29, four days after his meeting with Mr. Abbas, and both sides are hoping he will break the deadlock.— AP

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