The Palestine Papers
"The region is slipping away"
Documents reveal a Palestinian Authority that's critical, mistrustful and
fearful of Arab neighbours.
Gregg Carlstrom Last Modified: 26 Jan 2011 19:38 GMT
Earlier this week, in response to Al Jazeera's first release of The Palestine
Papers, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas tried to dismiss the
documents by invoking pan-Arab solidarity.
"We don't hide anything from our Arab brothers," he said in Cairo. "We have
been briefing our Arab brothers about all our activities with the Israelis and
the Americans."
But there is little Arab unity on display in The Palestine Papers: The
documents reveal a Palestinian Authority that is often critical and mistrusting
of its "Arab brothers".
Some of the earliest criticism came in July 2007, when chief Palestinian
negotiator Saeb Erekat met with US security coordinator Keith Dayton. Erekat
wanted to weaken Hamas, and asked Dayton to pressure several Arab regimes to
cut support for the group:
Erekat: "Last 6 months we had the least amount of money transferrals from
Arab states. Someone has to tell them something. Egypt is allowing the tunnels
to continue. What's this business with the Saudis too? Bandar strikes a deal
then Abdullah outmaneuvers him. These regimes depend on you, how can you..."
In an October 20, 2009 meeting with George Mitchell, Erekat accused the Qatari
government of carrying out a campaign against him:
Erekat: The Emir of Qatar going on phone personally, calling intellectuals
telling them to attack Abbas calling Azmi Bishara and Abdul-Bari Atwan. This
is because Abbas wouldn't go and do reconciliation in Qatar like the Lebanese.
But there is nothing you do with Qatar. Qatar's prince, your ally, is
conducting a personal campaign against Abbas.
The next day, while talking with then-US national security adviser James Jones,
Erekat accuses the Saudi government of handing the region over to Hamas:
Erekat: "The Saudis are also crucial... with Iran, Hizbullah, Syria
jumping around the region. They are doing nothing. Abbas is doing Saudi
Arabia's job. Instead they equate him with Hamas. The region is slipping away
like sand through our hands."
Mistrust is another common theme, particularly with regards to the Egyptians.
According to a February 3, 2008 e-mail, for example, Erekat worries that the
Egyptian government is being duplicitous in regards to its position on Hamas:
"The President has heard re-assuring positions from Egypt regarding
controlling Rafah crossing, and the need to abide by the Rafah agreement, as it
preserve the political and economic unity b/w the West Bank and Gaza. Dr. Rafiq
is not very confident; however, on trusting every single word that the
Egyptians are saying, especially when it comes to the relations with Hamas."
Other documents show similar mistrust of the Egyptians. Erekat asks Mitchell in
October 2009 to talk with the Egyptians about a proposed reconciliation deal
between Hamas and Fatah, asking Mitchell to ensure that "whatever they put in
the paper won't result in the return of the siege. We don't want any surprises."
Qatar's role causes similar concerns for the PA. Hazem Atallah, the West Bank
security chief, tells Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni that "Hamas is
funded from Qatar" in an April 2008 meeting.
And there is a bizarre exchange in February 2009, when Erekat meets with Obama
adviser Gamal Hilal:
Erekat: "How are your Qatari friends?"
Hilal: "Not my friends. We should replace the US base there with
Palestinian forces. Maybe they can take over."
Erekat: "Who pays for the US base?"
PS: "Qatar paid for much of it. Moving it (to the Emirates) would be very
expensive. They also subsidize its operations."
Hilal: "So we can ship missiles from there to Israel..."
------------------------------------
Post message: [email protected]
Subscribe : [email protected]
Unsubscribe : [email protected]
List owner : [email protected]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
