Dr.Barghouthi: Israel does not want peace

Monday June 25, 2007 12:14 by Nisreen Qumsieh - 1 of International Middle East Media Center - IMEMC Editorial Group

Legislator Mustafa Barghouthi, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, said that Israel does not want peace with Palestine because Israeli officials refuse to move forward with peace negotiations.

Israel aims to shrink the Palestinian Authority to functional authority, limited to handling only mundane issues such as services and administration, and not involved in resolving political matters such as ending the occupation, removing settlements and dismantling the illegal wall, said Dr. Barghouthi.

Dr. Barghouthi stated that Israel manipulates the political situation by refusing to release Palestinian funds out of the tax money in one full payment, and instead plans to transfer money in installments.

Israeli policies aim at dividing the Palestinian society, isolating Gaza from the West Bank, weakening both conflicting Palestinian parties and the Palestinian people, said Barghouthi, adding that these are Israeli tactics to implement its unilateral and dangerous plans.

palestine | peace process | news report nisreen at imemc dot org