Abed Rabbo Calls for a 'Balanced' Intl. Stand

Minister Abed Rabbo Calls for a 'Balanced' International Stand
June 3, 2002 Palestine Media Center-PMC

Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo, the Minister of Culture and Information, stressed that while the Americans and Europeans discuss reforming Palestine National Authority (PNA) institutions and convening an international peace conference, they turn a blind eye to the daily Israeli crimes perpetrated against the Palestinian People.

In a press conference held at the Palestine Media Center (PMC) in Ramallah today, 3 June, the Minister emphasized that it is impossible to achieve reforms in the PNA, while the Israeli occupation army continues its daily aggression, incursions, and reoccupation of Palestinian cities, which it has effectively divided into "cages and prisons".

The Minister added that the international community, namely the United States, ought to adopt a more balanced policy that would call for an end to Israeli confiscation of land, home demolitions, and killings of Palestinian civilians. He stated that the current policy "does not pressure Israel into abiding by international resolutions and is in effect unbalanced. Furthermore, it does not provide the appropriate environment for reform and obstructs the possibility of holding a successful regional peace conference."

"By concentrating on Palestinian internal reform, this policy overlooks the Israeli crimes being committed on a daily basis and aims to place the ball in the Palestinian court instead of providing a balanced alternative, which holds Israel responsible for its crimes," added the Minister.

Furthermore, Mr. Abed Rabbo affirmed that the PNA is committed to carrying out internal reforms in the security, financial, and political fields. He added that their success was however contingent upon Israel's lifting of its imposed siege, which completely cripples the movement of the Palestinian People and prohibits them from leading a normal life.

Asked about CIA Director George Tenet's mission to the region, the Minister stated, "Clearly, his visit will focus on the security issues. However, in order for his mission to succeed, Tenet ought to create the right conditions for achieving security reform; through ending Israel's continuous crimes and aggression against the Palestinian People."

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