[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

Question: What Israeli and other so-called-peace supporters will come out
with statements denouncing Ahmed Qureia for this threat?]

Ahmed Qureia: Violence 'legitimate' if talks fail
Top Palestinian negotiator warns violence may erupt if current round of
negoiations with Israel go under. 'Resistance in all its forms is a
legitimate right,' says Ahmed Qureia
Reuters Latest Update: 09.23.08, 18:52 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3601059,00.html

"The Palestinians will continue to negotiate. But, if the talks reached a
dead end, what do we do? Capitulate? Resistance in all its forms is a
legitimate right," said Ahmed Qureia in a message to newly-elected Kadima
chairwoman, Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni.

Earlier in the day Livni met with Qureia. Livni was recently chosen by
President Shimon Peres to form a new government. This was the first meeting
between the two since the Kadima primaries, however Livni's office insisted
it was a routine appointment.

Livni assured Qureia that peace talks will not stall while she tries to form
a new coalition government. Speaking with the Reuters news agency after the
meeting, Qureia said the meeting had been positive.

"It was a good meeting. Livni reassured me she would continue the peace
process without accepting any conditions."

Israeli officials confirmed the meeting had taken place but gave no details.

Referring to the goal set by US President George W. Bush last November,
Qureia said he had "great doubts about finalising a deal this year." He said
Palestinian leaders were considering their options if talks failed to
produce a deal that would lead to independence. If they lost hope in
negotiations and became convinced Israel was not prepared to end its
occupation, renewed attacks against Israelis were possible.

Asked whether he was saying the Palestinians might resume suicide bombings
and attacks inside Israel, Qurie responded: "All forms of resistance."

On Sunday senior PA officials conveyed a clear threat to Livni. Rafik
Husseini, the top adviser to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told
The Sunday Telegraph that Palestinian politicians may take the drastic step
of disbanding the authority if a lasting agreement is not reached during the
current peace negotiations.

Such a move would mark the end of the US-backed talks launched with much
fanfare at Annapolis last November, the report said, and put day-to-day
Palestinian governance back in Israeli hands, almost certainly igniting
fresh violence in the process.

"The Palestinian Authority is only a vehicle to achieve the interests and
rights of the Palestinian people. Vehicles come and go," said the senior
Palestinian official.

First Published: 09.23.08, 17:48