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PA officials pleased, extremists reject accordBy STEVE RODAN and MOHAMMED NAJIBJERUSALEM (October 25) - The Palestinian Authority expressed satisfaction yesterday with the Wye Memorandum, with officials saying the Palestinians achieved another step in their drive for a state.But critics said the agreement is a humiliation for the Palestinians and turns the PA into an arm of the Israeli and US security agencies. PA Secretary-General Tayeb Abdul Rahim said the Wye agreement is a phase toward the fulfillment of all Palestinian rights. PA minister and negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Wye agreement contained all of the elements of the US bridging proposal supported by the PA. He told the PA-aligned Al-Ayyam daily yesterday "We maintained the deal in its comprehensive state," and said that the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agreed to hand over more than 27 percent of the West Bank to full Palestinian control, far more than what its Labor Party predecessor had offered. Palestinian Legislative Council member Hussam Khader said the accord aims to protect Israel's economic, political and security interests. "The fear is that the PA security apparatuses will become a department of the CIA and the Mossad if the PA concession is allowed to remain," Khader told The Jerusalem Post. Still, Khader asked Hamas to give the accord a chance and halt attacks on Israelis. Hamas spokesman Ismail Abu Shanab said the accord is a continuation of the Oslo agreements, which the Islamic movement opposes. "It does not realize the ambitions of the Palestinian people for their rights," he said. "As a result, we reject this." Abu Shanab said the PA is committed to the security demands issued by Israel. He said about 200 political prisoners remain in PA custody. The Hamas spokesman asserted that the movement would not violate PA law. But he suggested that Hamas would launch attacks from areas under Israeli control. "The Palestinian people have the right to defend itself until the liberation," he said. Syria's government newspaper, Al-Thawra, said. "It is rather a liquidation and a total surrender of what has remained of the Palestinian rights." The English-language Syria Times said the agreement was a "trap for the Palestinian side, which has left itself open to Israeli threats.'' In Damascus, an alliance of Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad, vowed to torpedo the Wye accord, saying it was a conspiracy against Palestinians.
David Rudge adds: "We are very pleased with this agreement, which we see as a renewal of the commitment to the process started in Oslo," said Abed Inbitawi, spokesman for the Israeli Arab leadership's monitoring committee. "We hope that this move will lead to other steps on the path towards a just and comprehensive peace which itself is the best guarantee of ensuring security for both peoples - Israelis and Palestinians." He maintained, however, that real and lasting peace could only be achieved if it were based on the concept of the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. "The real test, however, will be in getting the agreement improved and in implementing it in accordance with the timetable. From our experience, there is cause for concern in this aspect, especially in light of the influence that the extreme right-wing has on Israeli society in general and on this government, where it has strong representation, in particular." Inbitawi added.
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