Ain-Al-Yaqeen - February 16, 2007

		February 16, 2007

THE SAUDI COMMITTEE FOR THE RELIEF OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE SIGNS A MOU WITH UN-HABITAT.
ABBAS INFORMS MUBARAK AND KING ABDULLAH II ABOUT THE DETAILS OF MAKKAH AGREEMENT.
HANIYAH: THE NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE FORMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
OLMERT: ISRAEL WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PART WITH THE GOLAN HEIGHTS IF IT EVER WANTS PEACE WITH NEIGHBOURING SYRIA.

A Memorandum of Understading (MOU) on mutual cooperation between UN-HABITAT and the Saudi Committee for the Relief of Palestinian People was signed on 11 February 2007, in Riyadh by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, and Dr. Sa'id Al-Orabi Al-Harthi, Chairman, Saudi Committee for the Palestinian People Relief, and Advisor to the Minister of Interior.

The occasion was witnessed by. Dr. Jamal Al-Shobaki Ambassador of Palestine to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The MOU provides a framework for the establishment of a "Housing and Income Generating Programme for Widowed and Poor Women Hebron, the West Bank, the occupied Palestinian territories". Over a three year period, the Saudi Committee will provide US$ 6.3 million to finance Programme activities which include the construction of 100 housing units, the development of income generating projects and training for widowed and poor women in addition to building capacities of the Ministry of Labor and Social affairs.

Mrs Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Program) commended the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz that is helping the Palestinians overcome their differences and agree on the formation of a national unity government. She was pleased that the MOU was signed in the wake of such an auspicious development.

The housing project for the women of Hebron is part of a portfolio of activities being implemented within the framework of the Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian People and its Trust Fund. The Executive Director expressed the hope that this will be the beginning of further cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UN-HABITAT.

In her meeting, the Executive Director also expressed her appreciation to Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior and Director General of the Saudi Committee for the Palestinian People Relief, for having graciously approved the grant.

She highly commended the efforts of Dr. Sa'id Al-Orabi Al-Harthi, President of the Saudi Committee and his colleagues for their tireless efforts which culminated in the signing of the MOU.

Dr. Sa'id Al-Orabi Al-Harthi pointed out that the programme will be implemented speedily in line with international standards. He added that the programme is within the framework of the humanitarian and developmental role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to benefit the Palestinian people.

He said that the Saudi Committee has signed several agreements with other UN agencies to implement relief and development projects in the Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz for his efforts to reunite the Palestinian factions signatories of the Makkah, which he described as the world historical agreement. He said the assistance provided by the Kingdom for the people of Palestine are always at the forefront.

He pointed out that the assistance provided by the Saudi people recently is part of the campaign called by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and is the largest ever. He also lauded the efforts of Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior General and his directions to the Commission to assist the Palestinian people. He pointed out that the agreement came at a time when Palestinians in the Palestinian territories need support and assistance, especially that poverty in Palestine reached its worst record in 2006 according to the United Nations reports.

President Mahmoud Abbas appreciated the Egyptian important role and exerted efforts on Palestinian cause, especially in period of clashes recently erupted among Palestinians.

Following the meeting with President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, President said in a press conference that "I come here to meet President Mubarak to convey thanks and respect for Egypt for its continued support to the Palestinian cause as well as its diplomatic and political efforts in reaching the recent Makkah agreement.

President voiced hope that that Makkah agreement to be lasted and Palestinians apply it on the national Palestinian government.

As for the US Secretary visit on February 19 to hold tri- partite summit with Israeli PM to discuss the resumption of the peace process, adding that the Palestinian side would arrange stances with Egypt.

In response to a question about guarantees for applying Makkah agreement, President said that guarantees are confined to figures and parties, adding that good well and intentions for its application are the guarantees. "Three are good well and the agreement would be succeeded."

Asking about the possibility of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to convince Washington to deal with the new Palestinian government, President said we should not deal with statements hear and their but what is required from the new formed government, within days, is to commit to the commissioning letter that is announced in signing Makkah agreement.

As for the tri- party meeting in light of al-Aqsa events, President said "such acts are regretful and condemned in the entire world and we do not accept such acts. Israel, every period, works on the ground in Jerusalem in an attempt to alter its demographical and geographical composition, and I will raise the issue of Jerusalem as always with the triangle meeting.

Asking about the commissioning letter that addressed to Ismael Haniyah to form the new government, President said that official commissioning was actually released during signing Makkah agreement and when constitutional preparations become ready.

As for the Quartet meeting, President said that the Quartet has an effective role in the peace process and we would put, during the triangle meeting, the essence of the road to resume the final peace process, adding that we reject the temporary state and we have to work on all basic issues, including borders, colonies the Palestinian state and refugees on scheduled implementations.

As for convening a meeting in Syria and Cairo for reactivating the PLO, President said that the Syrian meeting would be parliamentary with figures and participants who would involve and another meeting would be held in Cairo to reactivate the PLO.

In Gaza President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday designated Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya to form a new unity government after accepting his resignation. Received by President Abbass in Gaza Presidential HQ, Haniyya presented the resignation of the current cabinet which President Abbas accepted.

President Abbas said that the forming of the first unity government came in accordance with the Makkah Agreement reached by Fatah and Hamas movements in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, last week.

President Abbas said the blessed Makkah Agreement will open new horizon for new era in Palestine in which people can live in security, peace and a true national unity.

For his part, PM Haniya hailed the role of President Abbas in making the Makkah deal, saying that the "today we present to the Palestinian people the unity government which comes in accordance with the Makkah Agreement."

Israel and the United States have reacted with caution to an agreement by Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to form a national unity government.

The US said it would wait for the final document before making its assessment.

Palestinian political adviser Ahmed Youssef said the Palestinian unity government will not recognize Israel.

"In the platform of the new government there will be no sign of recognition (of Israel), regardless of the pressures the United States and the Quartet would exert," he told Reuters.

In Amman President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed that Makkah agreement is important and considered the first stone towards forming a unity government and achieving the full Palestinian national unity.

Speaking to journalists following his meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman, the President said that he briefed Abdullah on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and the results emerged from Makkah agreement, hoping that the agreement would be acceptable to the international community.

For his part, King Abdullah expressed his complete support to the Palestinian people and the agreement that have been reached, hoping that such step would contribute positively in ending the international siege, condemning at the same time Israeli excavation in Al-Aqsa.

President Mahmoud Abbas said that the agenda of the national unity government would qualify it to have good relations with the international community.

During a meeting in Amman with Jordanian Prime Minister, Marouf al-Bakhit, the President briefed al-Bakhit on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and the results emerged from Makka agreements.

The President also revealed that the upcoming government would be able to meet its duties, adding that he tackled procedures that would be taken during his coming meeting with Israeli primer, Ehud Olmert, and the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

For his part, al-Bakhit expressed Jordan full support for procedures that would lead to firm the Palestinian national unity and strength the Palestinians ability to regain their legitimate rights.

He also hailed the Makka agreement, hoping for a swift formation of the unity government in order to end the international siege and to revitalize the peace process.

For his part Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyah, called for an inclusive national reconciliation between Palestinians.

Haniyah remarks came during a TV address in which he highlighted the Palestinian people to the results of the Makkah agreement, saying that this agreement had put an end to the armed confrontation between Palestinians.

The Primier also affirmed that the Palestinian people have only the choice of reconciliation and unity so as to reach the Palestinians legitimate rights.

President Mahmoud Abbas chaired a meeting of the PLO Executive Committee in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

During the meeting, which was attended by a number of representatives of parliamentarian blocs, the Committee's members hailed the Saudi role for sponsoring the Makkah Agreement.

The Committee also thanked the Arab states which helped ending the Palestinian internal crisis, especially Egypt, Syria, Jordan and the Gulf states.

The Committee has welcomed the Mecca Agreement between Fateh and Hamas Movements, urging for the quick implementation of the Agreement.

It also affirmed that all the Palestinian factions and forces welcomed the Agreement, which prohibits the internal fight and calls for forming a national unity government which is able to lift the siege imposed on the Palestinian people.

President Mahmoud Abbas had several phone calls with Arab leaders and officials to brief them about the situation in the Palestinian territory.

The President had conferred, over phone calls, with King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faissal, and the Egyptian Director of General Intelligence, Minister Omar Suleiman.

During the phone calls, President Abbas briefed the leaders and officials about his designation to Mr. Ismael Haniyah to form a unity government in accordance with the Makkah Agreement.

President Abbas designated Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah to form a new unity government after accepting his resignation on Thursday.

Earlier Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing that was opened early in the morning for Palestinian travellers.

Haniyah told reporters at the crossing that his government planned to resign in the coming days to start the process of forming the new national unity government. "We are convinced of the necessity of speeding up the resignation to within days, possibly Wednesday, Thursday or Friday," he said.

Under the accord reached in Makkah, the Hamas-led government will resign and Haniyah will start forming the new national unity government.

The two sides have agreed to a division of Cabinet posts, but have not yet reached agreement on the names of most of the government ministers.

From his side President Mahmoud Abbas is also trying to win international support for the coalition deal, even though it falls short of demands that any Palestinian government recognize Israel and renounce violence.

On another development Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would send a team of experts to Jerusalem to survey archaeological work near the al-Aqsa mosque which has triggered protests across the Muslim world.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, speaking at the same news conference during a visit to Ankara, said he welcomed the decision, saying: "We have nothing to hide." "The work which is being conducted is being done outside the Temple Mount area. We are very happy to host the prime minister's team and therefore the right and correct and exact story will come out," Olmert said.

Israel insists the dig poses no threat to sites revered by Muslims. Olmert said he had shown Erdogan photographs of the area, but the Turkish leader said he did not know the area and so was not completely convinced by Olmert's assurances.

Muslim but secular Turkey is one of the few countries in the region to enjoy good ties with both Israel and the Palestinians as well as with Israel's foes Iran and Syria. Ankara is keen to play a more active diplomatic role in the region. "As a modern Muslim country Turkey can play a role building ties between Israel and Muslim countries that do not have relations with Israel," Olmert said.

Meantime it was reported that the Jerusalem mayor has decided to delay building work near the city's most contentious holy site after days of violent clashes and Muslim outcry, but archaeological excavations will continue.

Mayor Uri Lupolianski made his decision late last Sunday in order to allow public discussion of Israel's plans to replace a damaged wooden bridge leading to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound with a stone ramp.

The site, venerated by Muslims as the third holiest in Islam and by Jews as the location of their ancient temple which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, is a notorious flashpoint where violence has flared periodically.

The work which has angered Muslims across the world, has been slammed by the Arab League as a "criminal attack" while the Waqf, or the Muslim Endowment, has warned that the project endangers the foundations of the compound.

Israel has insisted that the works pose no risk to the holy sites and are merely aimed at strengthening the access ramp for the benefit and safety of visitors after earthquake and snowstorm damage in 2004.

Despite the street protests and dissent from within his own government, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert insisted that the new bridge is vital.

"There is an essential need to build a new bridge. Anyone who goes there sees this for himself," he told his cabinet.

But Jerusalem mufti Sheikh Mohammed Hussein said the decision to suspend the public works while continue excavations was insufficient.

"Only an announcement from the Israeli government ordering a halt to all work once and for all, and authorising the Waqf to embark on the necessary repair work will satisfy us," he told AFP.

"This is an aggression against the Al-Aqsa mosque and the world has called for this aggression to stop," he added.

On the other hand Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Israel will have no choice but to part with the Golan Heights if it ever wants peace with neighbouring Syria.

"The whole world knows that in any future negotiations, if they are renewed, we will have to give up on the entire Golan Heights," Ha'aretz quoted Olmert as telling the committee.

The remarks came as part of a heated argument with committee member and opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu.

Olmert charged that during his tenure as prime minister, Netanyahu had held negotiations with Syria based on the premise of ceding territory on the strategic plateau. Netanyahu denied that he had ever intended to comply with Syrian territorial demands.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War. During the 19 years prior to that conflict, Syria used the plateau to perpetrate constant shelling and sniping attacks on Israelis living in the valleys below, and even tried to divert streams originating on the Golan that provide one-third of Israel's water.