VARIOUS: HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR WEST BANK MEETING BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT AND PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ABBAS

As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas prepare to hold a meeting on Monday, analysts say near term steps may be taken to improve relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on the West Bank, but it remains unclear if final status issues, which could eventually lead to a peace deal, will be discussed. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expects to discuss with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert key issues for creating a Palestinian state at a meeting in the West Bank on Monday (August 6), Abbas's top aides said on Saturday (August 4). But while many in the international community have been pressing the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to find common ground, it remains unclear if the Palestinian and Israeli leaders would discuss the most contentious final-status questions of the future of Jerusalem, borders, and the future of Palestinian refugees. Yossi Alpher is an Israeli consultant on regional strategic issues, and a former Mossad official. He says expectations for a big breakthrough coming from Monday's meeting should be tempered. "I doubt there will be any major developments. There will be more of the same. There will be more discussion of prisoner release, transfer of funds, removing road-blocks on Israel's part. And Palestinian progress in institution building, and stabilising a security force that could conceivably take over from Israel in parts of the West Bank, and therefore enable us to continue to dismantle some of these road-blocks," Alpher told Reuters. Since the last time Olmert and Abbas met, a variety of steps have been taken by Olmert and a variety of international leaders in an attempt to boost Abbas's standing amongst Palestinians, which took a hit after Hamas militants seized control of Gaza in mid-June. Israel released over 250 Palestinian prisoners in July. And in recent weeks, the region has been visited by new Quartet envoy Tony Blair, Foreign Minister of Jordan Abdelelah Al-Khatib, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. But despite the increase in the diplomatic tempo, and shows of support for President Abbas, Hamas has also consolidated its power in Gaza. Hannan Ashrawi, a Palestinian lawmaker and former official in Yasser Arafat's government, says much more needs to be done in order to lay the groundwork for any sort of future peace deal. "First of all to stop the escalation on Israeli occupation measures, whether in terms of building a wall, continue this horrible wall, or the settlements or even the incursions and the killings and so on. We need to curb Israeli behavior, we need to see the release of prisoners, we need to see serious of intent translated into action," Ashrawi said, speaking in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "But simultaneously we need to see the political foundation of any negotiations," she added. While an over-arching peace-deal might be far off, there are some near-term developments that could result from Monday's meeting. Some analysts have said that Olmert and Abbas may agree to a handover of control of some West Bank communities to Palestinian security forces. The towns of Jericho, and Qalqilya are reported to be two areas where such a handover of power might take place. Israeli officials have also indicated that Olmert may offer to move or remove some West Bank checkpoints, which could ease travel between Palestinian communities, and perhaps boost Abbas's standing. Israelis officials say the checkpoints are needed to maintain security. But they've been a frustration to Palestinian daily life. "We cannot use words, it is all showing for the eyes. Every time, 200 hundred people are standing in line, waiting at the checkpoint. One gets here at 5 AM and barely gets out at 8 AM, " Hani Al Rawajbi, a resident of Nablus said, as he waited to pass through a checkpoint. "We hear the news but in the reality we see something else. They say there will be easing restrictions, but actually it is the opposite," Yousef Abu Zen said. It's that type of scepticism both leaders face, and feelings both will perhaps work to overcome when they meet. It is unclear whether Olmert, whose popularity plummeted after last year's inconclusive war in Lebanon, can make major concessions. It is also uncertain how Abbas can deliver on any deal with Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip. The United States is pressing Israeli and Palestinian leaders to find common ground on some issues within four months, in time for a key international Middle East conference, officials and diplomats have said.

ITN Source | August 5, 2007

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