February 9, 2007

IN RESPONSE TO AN INVITATION FROM THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES. THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN PALESTINIAN LEADERS STARTED ON WEDNESDAY IN THE VICINITY OF THE HOLY MOSQUE IN MAKKAH AL MUKKARAMAH. ABU MAZEN EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY TO ACHIEVE A JUST SOLUTION FOR THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE. ABBAS: THE FAILURE OF DIALOGUE MEANS AGGRAVATION OF THE INTERNAL SITUATION AND WILL INVOLVE THE PALESTINIANS IN MORE TROUBLES AND SUFFERINGS. PALESTINIAN LEADERS PRAISE THE PATRONAGE OF THE KINGDOM. A SAUDI OFFICIAL SOURCE: SAUDI ARABIA CONDEMNS THE ISRAELI EXCAVATIONS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA OF AL AQSA MOSQUE. In response to the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to the Palestinian leaders to hold talks in the vicinity of the holy mosque of Makkah, the Palestinian leaders began their first meeting in the presence of head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Movement Khalid Mishal and Palestinian Premier Isma'il Haneya as well as other officials of Fatah and Hamas movements. Speaking on the occasion, Abbas said the meeting comes in response to the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. This place, in the vicinity of the Holy Mosque, is the best place where we can meet to discuss our problems', he said. Abbas emphasized the importance of reaching a just solution for the Palestinian problem. He pointed out that the ongoing practices of Israel to Judaize all areas of Al-Quds make it an essential matter to focus on the political issues that concern the Palestinians and the Arab nation. Expressing sorrow over the developments in the Palestinian territories, Abbas said 'we don't want bloodshed. But we want to enable the Palestinians live an honorable life'. Abbas underscored the importance of formation of the national unity government, and said that is the demand of all. He noted that the formation of the government of the national unity will put an end to the siege imposed on the Palestinians and open new Arab and international horizons, and moreover it will enable the Palestinians to live an honorable life. 'This is one of our basic demands which we hope will be attained in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, he said. 'God willing, we will not leave this Holy Place without reaching an agreement', he said. Abbas reviewed the agenda of the meeting which includes the formation of a government of national unity on the partnership bases, and activation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as well as deepening national concord. Praising King Abdullah, Abbas said 'the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is a sincere, frank and noble Arab and Muslim'. On his part, Khalid Mishal said 'We have come to this place to please Almighty Allah and our people who have been suffering a lot under the yoke of the occupation, and who have become unhappy for our political differences, and for fighting of each other instead of fighting the Israeli enemy. He noted that Israel has been exploiting these developments for carrying out its aggressive policies against the Palestinian sanctuaries. 'We have come here to enable the Palestinians and their leaders to focus on the important issues for the restoration of their usurped land and rights as well as establishing the Palestinian state which enjoys genuine sovereignty.' He lauded the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah who called the Palestinian leaders to come to Makkah for discussing their problems. Khalid Mishal added that they came to Makkah for reaching a deal and there is no room but for an agreement. He stated, "We will not leave this place until we reach an agreement. We have no option but to agree. We came with this intention... We want to be unified and we want to achieve a real partnership between the two major factions at the Palestinian arena, Fatah and Hamas." He stressed the importance of working to establish a real Palestinian partnership to be a basis for forming a government adding that the Palestinian people do not ask for the impossible but for their legitimate rights. He called on the international community to respect this will, stating that Palestinian internal disagreements will be ended and national unity will be bolstered. Then, Palestinian Premier Ismaeel Haneyah delivered a speech in which he thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and the Saudi government for this blessed invitation. He stated that this initiative proves that Palestine not only concerns Palestinians but also all Arabs and Muslims hoping this meeting would be a new chapter in relations among the Palestinians. He called for sparing all Palestinians' lives, safety and properties. Referring to Makkah and the Kaaba, he said this place symbolizes the unity of the nation and stressed the importance of the Palestinians' reaching of a national unity government. He stated that the Palestinian goal is to set up an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and with Al Quds as its capital, have the refugees repatriated and the prisoners and captives released. The Palestinian Premier underlined the need for ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, reaching an agreement unifying them, protecting their national goal and boosting their political partnership. Referring to the dangers facing Al Quds, he stressed the importance of Al Quds as a trust under the responsibility of all Palestinians and the whole Arab and Muslim nation, calling on them to protect Al Quds and Al Aqsa mosque. The Palestinian Premier stressed that through this dialogue, the goal of the Palestinian leaders is a comprehensive deal to govern various aspects of Palestinian relations and not just a partial deal that ends the tension and leaves the rest of issues. Afterwards, the two sides held a closed-door session. The Palestinian leaders resumed their meetings in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque where they held their second closed-door session in Makkah to reach results benefiting the Palestinian people. The leaders attending were President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmood Abbas (Abu Mazin), Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Movement Khalid Mashaal, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismaeel Haneyah and a number of the officials of Fatah and Hamas movements. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has received Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority; Khalid Mishaal, Chairman of the Political Bureau of Hamas Movement; Ismaeel Haneyah, Palestinian Prime Minister; and a number of officials in Fatah and Hamas movements. Then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques held a lunch party in their honor. The audience and the function were attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Mit'eb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Saud Al Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; other princes, ministers and a number of officials. Warning against the failure of Makkah summit, Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, said the failure of the summit will lead to a civil war. In a statement to Beirut-based 'Al-Akhbar Al-Lebnaniya', newspaper, published, Abbas reiterated keenness on reaching a comprehensive agreement with Hamas movement on a number of issues notably the formation of a national unity government which leads to a real political partnership and a collective work for ending the financial siege imposed on the Palestinian government and people in addition to ending fighting and bloodshed. Abbas noted that the failure of dialogue means aggravation of the internal situation and breaking out of a civil war. 'It will dishonor Hamas and Fatah if they become the cause of aggravation of the situation in Palestine, and involve the Palestinians in more troubles and sufferings', he said. Abbas described the speech of Khalid Mishal, the Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, last Sunday as a wise and reasonable speech. We should make our people in Gaza strip happy by reaching an agreement', he added. Meanwhile the British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett welcomed the Saudi efforts to stop infighting and solve the inter-Palestinian differences. In remarks on the British Foreign Office's website, Beckett said Britain welcomes initiatives by the region's countries, particularly the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to end violence in Gaza strip. She said she became more confident following talks with her Israeli counterpart Tzipora Livni that there is no way but to proceed with the aim of reaching settlement through negotiations and reaching a permanent and comprehensive solution based on the existence of two independent states. She said violence among Palestinian rivals serves none. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is encouraged by the efforts of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to mediate between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah, UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said. Ban Ki-moon is pleased by the positive atmosphere in which this dialogue has begun, Montas told reporters. He is following developments closely, and hopes that the talks will be successful. The Saudi monarch hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Hamas leader Khald Meshaal in Makkah to try to bridge differences between the two parties. Ezat Mohammed Al-Rashq, a member of Hamas Political Bureau, informed the Saudi Press Agency that during the meetings of Palestinian leaders now in progress in Makkah, three committees have been formed. The committees are focusing on three topics, namely the formation of the government, the re-formation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and the political partnership, the official said. Palestinian reconciliation committees held a meeting to discuss issues in preparation for submitting them to the leaders of the movements of Fatah and Hamas. These committees, the government formation committee, Palestine Liberation Organization rebuilding committee and political participation committee, were formed by the first sessions held by Palestinian leaders. The meeting was attended by a number of the officials of the Fatah and Hamas movements. The official spokesman of the Palestinian government Dr. Ghazi Hamad held a press conference in which he stated that Hamas and Fatah movements are working to narrow differences and bring views closer together adding that Palestinian discussions being held focused on three basic issues: formation of a national unity government, the issue of Palestine Liberation Organization and political partnership. The spokesman hoped that discussion of all issues would end today. On the role of Saudis in the talks, he said, "the Saudi brethren treated and cooperated with us very well. They have been ready to provide consultation. We are working in a comfortable environment with no external pressures, interferences or otherwise. So, a kind of consultation and a positive exchange exist between us and the Saudi brethren. I think this helps in bringing views closer together." He cited King Abdullah as saying, 'if you can agree by yourselves, then you are free to do so and we will provide all capabilities and facilities to reach a satisfactory agreement for all.' he stressed that they are working on the basis of this positive spirit. The spokesman stressed that all Palestinian leaders have made a clear decision to conclude the Makkah talks successfully. On the other hand an official source said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very much concerned about works of excavations and demolitions which are being carried out by the Israeli authorities around Al-Aqsa Mosque and described these acts as a clear violation of the sacredness of the mosque and a threat to eliminate its religious and Islamic features. The source said the kingdom expresses its condemnation of these practices by the Israeli authorities on the third holiest mosque in the Islamic world. 'the kingdom urges the international community to intervene and stop this Israeli aggression as well as to confront firmly these practices which are aimed at desecrating the Islamic and civilized identity of Al-Aqsa mosque, which are considered as provocations for Muslims all around the world." On the Lebanese arena United Nations truce observers arrived at the Lebanese-Israeli border last Thursday hours after Lebanese troops and Israeli soldiers exchanged fire in the first such incident since the end of the war last summer between the Jewish state and Hezbollah. The National News Agency, NNA, said French and Italian troops, backed by armored vehicles, also took up positions along a five-kilometer (three-mile) stretch between the villages of Yaroun and Maroun al Ras, where the shooting took place overnight. NNA also said an unmanned Israeli reconnaissance plane flew over Maroun al Ras, Yaroun, Bint Jbeil, Rmeish and Ein Ibl before midday Thursday. The UN Inerim Force in Lebanon described as a "serious incident" the nighttime clashes which were sparked by an Israeli bulldozer crossing a fence. Peacekeepers contacted both sides, "urging them to cease hostilities with immediate effect," said Liam McDowell, a UNIFIL spokesman. He said the exchange was "initiated by the Lebanese army" and that the Israeli bulldozer crossed the "technical fence" to clear mines. His statement did not clearly define whether the Israelis had crossed the border, but indicated the Israelis were still on their side when the shooting erupted. The shooting lasted for a few minutes, military officials said. McDowell said the clash ended before midnight. Lebanese officials said their troops opened fire on an Israeli army bulldozer that had crossed the frontier near the border village of Maroun al-Rass, scene of heavy fighting in the summer. The bulldozer crossed the so-called Blue Line -- the UN-demarcated boundary -- and entered about 20 meters (22 yards) into Lebanon, Lebanese military officials said. The officials said the army fired volleys of .5 caliber machine guns toward the bulldozer, drawing Israeli forces to return with five anti-tank grenades that targeted an army armored vehicle and a transport jeep. Lebanese troops did not suffer any injuries. There was no immediate word of any Israeli casualties. Israel confirmed the exchange -- with security officials saying Israel's army returned fire with tanks and light weapons -- but denied its troops had entered Lebanon. It was the first time that shooting erupted across the border since Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon in October in the aftermath of the Aug. 14 cease-fire that ended the 34-day war between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters. In Jerusalem, the Israelis said the army was clearing land, searching for bombs near where explosive devices were planted by Hezbollah on Monday, under the cover of bad weather. Hezbollah has denied the allegation, saying the explosives were planted before the summer war. The Israeli army said troops operating in Israeli territory along the frontier came under fire, and that the source of the shooting was apparently Lebanese troops nearby. When the attackers refused to quit firing, the Israeli troops opened fire at them, the army said. UNIFIL is a peacekeeping force deployed to assist the Lebanese army patrol southern Lebanon to enforce the cease-fire. About 15,000 Lebanese troops deployed to south Lebanon under the U.N. resolution that included the cease-fire which ended the fighting. Hezbollah still maintains a presence in southern Lebanon, along the border, its leaders say. But it has largely gone underground, hiding weapons and keeping a low profile. The Lebanese army, which deployed to the area for the first time in three decades, and the 28-nation UNIFIL, now numbering 12,000, are in charge of security. Wednesday's incident was not expected to undermine the overall cease fire, which has also faced other difficulties since taking effect. Israel has sent warplanes repeatedly over Lebanon on reconnaissance flights which the UNIFIL termed as a violation of the cease-fire resolution. Israel maintains such flights are necessary to monitor any weapons smuggling for Hezbollah. Defense Minister Amir Peretz has said they would continue because arms smuggling to Lebanese militants hasn't stopped.