Israel calculating in drawing out negotiations

As members of the leadership continue to negotiate with the Israelis, many raise concern that the current period will result in the same disappointed efforts and back-tracking as previous negotiations.

Negotiators such as former Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and President Mahmoud Abbas have issued numerous statements and assurances that no Palestinian rights will be signed away, including Jerusalem and the Right of Return. But what concerns many are the simultaneous happenings on the ground.

Palestinian Independant Legislative Council member Jamal El Khudary issued a warning on Monday that Israeli forces are using the technique of foot-dragging during the negotiating process to buy time for further colonization efforts in the West Bank. During the current negotiation period, which is considered by parties such as the United States to have begun at the Annapolis Conference in November 2007, settlement activity increased as did the number of checkpoints.

Also the Chairman of PCAS, El Khoudary said today that Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank, which includes the imposition of new units an alarming rate, is a glaring indicator of the true intentions of Israeli occupation in dealing with Palestinian issues.

The Gaza resident stressed that "this aspect of colonization efforts is on the rise as part of the Israeli siege aimed at swallowing the occupied Palestinian territory through the Wall, barriers and the Judaization of Jerusalem."

He added, "Israel is smart in its persual of drawn out negotiations during which it can impose more facts on the ground while attention is being paid to the process of negotiation."

Israeli negotiators have put crucial issues, such as Jerusalem where facts on the ground are being rapidly changed, on hold, while foot-dragging on others such as political prisoners whose numbers rise daily.

Popular Committee Against Siege(PCAS