Abbas: India''s growing ties with Israel is not a matter of concern for Palestinians

Again, the PA persident is working against not only the Palestinian boycott campaign, supported by a near consensus in Palestinian civil society, but also against the Palestine solidarity movement in India and beyond.

This utterly irresponsible, gratuitous statement is not only shameful; it is politically futile and stands no chance to win the PA anything in return, as the long record of Palestinian free concessions has shown.

With no apparatus of Palestinian democratic accountability by representatives of the people in existence, this flood of official Palestinian concessions is guaranteed to continue unabated, significantly damaging -- further -- the struggle for our inalienable rights.

Omar Barghouti

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas today said that India''s growing ties with Israel is not a matter of concern for Palestinians as they remain assured of New Delhi''s support for their struggle for independence.

While talking to media persons about India s growing engagement with Israel , particularly in the field of defence, Abbas said, "India's relations with Israel is its sovereign decision."

"We are not going to interfere. We know very well that India is supportive of the Palestinian struggle for achieving its own independence," added Abbas.

Abbas also said that he was grateful to the Indian government for the economic support that Palestine has received in the past and during the present visit.

On the change in leadership in Israel , he noted that Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni has been really acquainted with the Middle East peace process.

Abbas said the two leaders cannot be compared but both belong to the same political party, adding, "The moment Livni forms her own government, we will start negotiating with her."

While talking about radical Hamas" refusal to accept his Presidency after January, Abbas said the Palestinian Authority (PA) was awaiting the Arab proposal to initiate the election process.

During his three-day visit to India Abbas met President Pratibha Patil and held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who reaffirmed support to the Palestinian cause and to a negotiated settlement of the issue.