Here are remarks made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday in a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice after their meeting in his headquarters, the Muqata’a, in Ramallah (source: a U.S. State Department transcript):
“[I]n order to render our efforts successful and in order to reiterate the partnership between us, there are three main things that we need to work with them [his Israeli "partners"]. First, to implement the obligations and commitments in the first phase of the roadmap plan immediately and in a balanced manner. And in this occasion, I would like to reiterate our commitment to implement and abide by our commitments and obligations, as stipulated in the article one of the roadmap plan, including the consolidation of one authority and one lawful weapon and the rule of law. And I would like to indicate that the Israeli Government’s obligations and commitments for the first phase include freezing of settlement activities, including the natural growth, as well as removal and dismantling of settlements that were (inaudible) in 2001, as well as opening the institutions that were closed in Jerusalem and to return to the situation prior to the 28th of September 2000, and stop aggressions and the destruction of properties and everything that would undermine the confidence between the two parties. And we also demanded for the release of the prisoners and we would also — should not forget the many checkpoints that are still there in the West Bank that need to be removed…
“I was encouraged by the statements of Prime Minister Olmert and I discussed this with Dr. Rice and I’m seeking the peace that would lead to the solution for final status issues such as Jerusalem, settlements, water, refugees, according to the international resolutions that are also included in the roadmap plan and the vision of President Bush and the Arab Peace Initiative in order to achieve the specific goal of ending the Israeli occupation that started in 1967 and the creation of an independent Palestinian state, as we’ve said and we reiterate again and again, an independent Palestinian state that lives in peace and security and stability alongside the state of Israel… ”
Abbas also said in his opening statement at the press conference: “I also reiterated to Dr. Rice the need for the Israelis to commit to stop the military aggressions against our people in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as the stopping of incursions and assassinations and the military checkpoints and the imposition of (inaudible) on the ground, including the confiscation of lands, demolition of houses, the construction of the wall. As for the Gaza Strip, I also reiterated to Dr. Rice the need for the Israeli Government to commit to not undermine the basic needs, the humanitarian needs, of our people in Gaza — and there are more than 1.5 million Palestinians — including food, medicine, electricity, water, as well as the entry points and crossing points…”