SPL executive Saad Al Lazeez steps down    Haram Authority provides low-calorie meals to guests of God in Grand Mosque    33,000 Saudi-made luxury carpets adorn Grand Mosque    SP Jain Global ranked 23 in the world in QS Executive MBA Rankings 2025    US Envoy Witkoff: Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks to resume in Jeddah on Sunday    Israel launches fresh strikes on Gaza, vows to fight 'in full force'    Saudi Arabia first in region to receive WHO verification for Type 2 emergency medical response    Saudi Arabia announces school holiday in Jeddah, Makkah, and Taif for Formula 1    Migrant carers from India's Kerala await justice in UK visa 'scams'    Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally return to Earth    Harry's US visa records unsealed after drug claims    Saudi Arabia slams Israeli attempts to destabilize Syria through continuous attacks    Istituto Marangoni to open Riyadh campus in August 2025    621 car maintenance businesses operate under franchise system in Saudi Arabia    Saudi Arabia surpasses self-sufficiency in figs    Princess Reema bint Bandar greets Saudi Special Olympics team in Jeddah    AFC Champions League Elite Finals draw sets stage for Jeddah showdown    Cannes award-winning actress Dequenne dies at 43    Antenna: Saudi artist Ahmed Mater opens first solo exhibition in China    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Abbas warns of West Bank pullout amid Israeli raids
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 23 - 07 - 2008

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned on Tuesday that he would withdraw his forces from West Bank cities unless Israel's military halted its frequent raids into these areas.
Such a step would be a serious setback to US-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and perhaps even signal that Abbas is giving up on trying to reach a deal.
Parallel to negotiations with Israel, Abbas has been trying to exert more control in the West Bank and to rein in militants. At the same time, the international community is training Abbas' forces, with hopes they will one day take over from Israel, which occupies the West Bank.
In recent months, Abbas has deployed forces in two of the unruliest towns, Nablus and Jenin, and residents once harassed by vigilante gunmen say they feel more secure.
However, Israel's military argues that the Palestinian forces often coopt former gunmen, instead of jailing them.
Despite the presence of the Palestinian forces, Israeli troops have continued raiding Palestinian cities, prompting complaints by Abbas that this is undermining him.
On Tuesday, Abbas met with legislators from his Fatah movement, and was asked what he plans to do about the frequent Israeli raids. Abbas is to meet Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, one of their regular sessions, and said he would bring up the issue.
“We are going to tell the Israelis the day after tomorrow that if the incursions and the aggression and the insults to the Palestinian police continue, we will withdraw these (Palestinian) forces,” Abbas said.
His comments were carried by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA and confirmed by an aide, as well as a participant in the meeting, Fatah legislator Najah Abu Bakr.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev would only say that Israel supports efforts to strengthen the Palestinian security forces. He did not respond to Abbas' warning.
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have made little progress, and a year-end target for a peace deal appears increasingly out of reach.
Abbas and his aides have been complaining with growing frequency about Israeli actions they say violate the letter and the spirit of the talks.
“There are many obstacles in the path of negotiations, most importantly settlement expansion, roadblocks and daily incursions into West Bank cities,” Abbas said Tuesday, according to WAFA.


Clic here to read the story from its source.