'Israel offering us nothing more than mini-state of cantons'
Khaled Abu Toameh , THE JERUSALEM POST May. 5, 2008
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Palestinian Authority officials said Monday that Israel was offering the
Palestinians nothing more than a "mini-state of cantons" in parts of the
West Bank.

The officials told The Jerusalem Post that Israel's proposals were
"completely unacceptable" and "provocative." They also claimed that the US
Administration was supporting the Israeli position.

"Today, it's clear to us that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from
all the territories that were occupied in 1967," said one official.

"If the Israelis and Americans think that they will ever find a Palestinian
leader who would accept less than the 1967 borders, they are living under an
illusion."
Another top PA official said that maps presented by the Israeli government
to the Palestinians in the past few weeks showed that Israel is planning to
retain control over nearly half of the West Bank and large parts of eastern
Jerusalem.

The Israeli maps, he said, "turn the Palestinian communities in the West
Bank into cantons surrounded by Israeli military bases and large settlement
blocs."
The official added: "We have made it clear to both the Israelis and
Americans that they should throw away these maps. No Palestinian will ever
agree to the presence of settlements or Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.
This is in violation of [US President George W.] Bush's vision of two states
living next to each other in peace."

The officials said they were unaware of dramatic changes in Israel's
position regarding final status issues, adding that it was "premature" to
talk about progress in the negotiations between the two parties.

They said they were surprised to hear reports in the Israeli media about
certain progress that was ostensibly achieved during Monday's summit between
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert.

"Apparently Olmert's office is spreading these rumors to divert attention
from the problems he's facing at home," the officials said, referring to the
latest police investigation against Olmert.

"The Israeli government is not serious about the peace talks," said Yasser
Abed Rabbo, a senior PLO official closely associated with Abbas. "We don't
believe that we can reach an agreement [with Israel] before the end of this
year."

Abed Rabbo accused Israel of "deceiving" the Palestinians by continuing to
build settlements while talking about the need to reach a peace deal.

"Israel does not want to change its policy," he added. "Israel wants to
continue settlement expansion and the construction of the separation wall."
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat described the talks between Abbas
and Olmert as "serious and thorough."

Erekat said Monday's talks focused on the final status issues. He said Abbas
demanded an end to construction in the West Bank settlements and the
reopening of closed PLO institutions in Jerusalem.

He said Abbas also demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners from
Israeli jails, especially those who have been in prison for more than 20
years, as well as women, minors and political leaders such as Marwan
Barghouti.

According to Erekat, Israel has agreed to grant residency status to 10,000
Palestinians who entered the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the past decade.