TruthNews

Abbas Hopes Olmert’s Remarks A "Deposit" For Next Coalition

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 2 Oct 2008

Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he hopes that departing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s recent comments over the need to cede the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem for the sake of peace will become a "deposit" as the starting point for negotiations by the next Israeli government.

While marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Abbas told religious clerics on Wednesday that if Olmert’s expressed views before the Jewish New Year could be applied "we could have peace in two days time."

It appears that Olmert’s frank 'farewell' interview with Yedioth Aharonoth on the eve of Rosh Hashanah caught Abbas by surprise.

"(I am saying) what no previous Israeli leader has ever said: we should withdraw from almost all of the territories, including in east Jerusalem and in the Golan Heights," Olmert said during the interview.

"These days were are hearing new (rhetoric) from the Israeli prime minister, talk of the entire West Bank, the entire Golan and occupied Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state. These are the things that will bring peace to us. It would have been better had they been said from the start, and we hope he will leave them as a deposit for the next Israeli government," Abbas told a gathering of Christian, Muslim, and Samaritan clerics to end the holy month of Ramadan.

Abbas also described his latest meeting with US President George W. Bush as "positive and productive." The Palestinian president said the meeting was essential, "as we face a new era, especially in the United States. The most important thing we heard from President Bush is that the Palestinian side has upheld its commitments," he said.

"This is the first time we've heard this from the American administration. And the things the current administration will leave the next administration will be positive," he added.

"The next administration will be able to address the Palestinian issue quickly. President Bush said he hopes the Palestinian people will be able to celebrate the establishment its state next year," reported Ynetnews.