November 8, 1998 Palestinian Commitments Versus Pronouncements Amend the PLO Covenant by the Palestinian National Council (PNC) "The joint meeting of the PLO Executive Committee, the PNC, the Central Council and the Legislative Council is intended only to listen to the speech of President Clinton and there will be no vote [to amend the Covenant]." (Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, Al-Ayyam, Nov. 4, 1998) "We shall not convene the Palestinian National Council to change the Covenant." (Abu Alaa, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Yediot Aharonot, Nov. 6, 1998) Halt Incitement "Jews are the seed of Satan and the devils" (PA television, Nov. 3, 1998) "The Israeli side is guided by Jewish merchant tactics in discussing every detail" (official PA newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, Oct. 26, 1998) Reduce the Size of the Palestinian Police "This is no problem. We will get around it by reallocating policemen such that one who serves in one location can serve in another. We will get around it by adopting a policy of transferring policemen." (PA Police Chief Ghazi Jabali, Al-Quds, Nov. 4, 1998) "With regard to lowering the number of Palestinian policemen, Dahlan indicated that the Palestinians do not intend to lower their number. He said, "We have no problem providing one list of policemen and a second list of policemen who do administrative work…" (Muhammad Dahlan, PA Preventive Security chief in Gaza, Al-Ayyam, Oct. 26, 1998) Confiscate Illegal Weapons "On the issue of confiscating illegal weapons, Dahlan stated there is no agreement on lowering the number of weapons in the PA's possession." (Muhammad Dahlan, PA Preventive Security chief in Gaza, Al-Ayyam, Oct. 26, 1998) "There is a law for licensing weapons. Every respectable person submits a request… and we give it to him… The weapons license is granted to businessmen, dignitaries, politicians and wanted fugitives…" (PA Police Chief Ghazi Jabali on PA TV, Oct. 30, 1998) Arrest Terrorists "I can not arrest a Palestinian citizen who killed an Israeli and at the same time give the Israeli the right to commit terrorist acts against Palestinians… my primary security mission is… to protect Palestinian security and defend Palestinian citizens." (Muhammad Dahlan, PA Preventive Security chief in Gaza, Al-Ayyam, Oct. 26, 1998) "The Palestinians will not listen to the Israeli security forces' instructions regarding who to arrest." (PA Minister Dr. Nabil Sha'ath, Voice of Israel in Arabic, Nov. 5, 1998) |
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