1. ‘ABBAS: NO RENUNCIATION OF RIGHT OF RETURN… The optimism that has colored Israeli-Palestinian relations in the days since Yassir Arafat’s death dimmed somewhat when Mahmoud ‘Abbas told the Palestinian legislature of his intentions to follow in Arafat’s footsteps, including holding steadfast to a Palestinian “right of return.” The issue of allowing millions of Palestinians who claim to have been disenfranchised during the 1948 war for Israel’s independence is a red flag in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Last April, U.S. President Bush blazed new diplomatic ground when he said in a policy speech that Palestinians should look instead to a new Palestinian state as the address for those scattered around the world. ‘Abbas also called for the capital of that state to be Jerusalem. ‘Abbas is the candidate for chairman of the Palestinian Authority of the largest Palestinian faction, Fatah, in the upcoming elections. But it will not be without opposition. The “young guard” is pushing for Marwan Barghouthi to run, even though the leader of the Tanzim faction is serving five consecutive life sentences in an Israeli prison for his involvement in the murders of five Israelis in terrorist attacks. He reportedly sent a letter from his prison cell stating his intention to run for P.A. leadership.
2. PALESTINIANS NOT ALLOWED INTO BEN GURION AIRPORT… Palestinians flying overseas must use airports in Jordan or Egypt, according to media reports in Israel. It has been revealed that Israeli intelligence routinely prevents Palestinians from entering Ben Gurion Airport, the nation’s primary gateway, due to the fear of terrorist attacks. The airport is considered to be one of the most secure facilities in the world.
3. QUARTET URGES EASING ON PALESTINIANS PRE-ELECTION; POWELL JAB REITERATES INTERNATIONAL POSITION… Using an opportunity to meet while attending the Iraqi rebuilding conference at Sharm A-Sheikh, members of the Quartet discussed ways to move the Road Map peace plan forward. The primary result was the urging of Israel to ease restrictions and allow the Palestinians freedom of movement before the election scheduled for January 9th. The group – comprised of the U.S., U.N., EU and Russia — agreed to pay for the elections. Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell used the meeting to take a jab at Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s ambiguity over whether his planned unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four communities in other post-1967 lands represents the beginning or end of the process. Although downplaying it, the American administration was annoyed by comments made to a newspaper by Sharon’s main confidante to the effect that the pullout will be the last move for a long time. Powell pointedly referred to the withdrawal “from Gaza and initially four settlements in the West Bank.” He also tied the pullout to the Road Map process.
4. OPEN SECTION OF ISRAELI SECURITY FENCE CLEARED FOR CONSTRUCTION… Israel is free to begin construction of its controversial security fence in an area east of Jerusalem that had been suspended because of legal challenges. That ended on Tuesday with a rejection by the High Court of Justice of a petition filed by the Palestinian village of ‘Sur Baher. Nevertheless, the government is not expected to make its final determinations about the Jerusalem-area sections in the near future. Four areas remain before the court for determinations of whether the proposed route of the barrier properly balances security against the hardships it places on nearby Palestinian populations.