The collapse of Abbas is very near. Within seven months, Abbas will have no influence whatsoever in the West Bank.
All these things constitute nails in his coffin, and he will collapse, Allah willing.
U.S. President George W. Bush: Annapolis Conference (November 27, 2007)
. . . We appreciate you joining us in what I believe is an historic opportunity to encourage the expansion of freedom and peace in the Holy Land.
We meet to lay the foundation for the establishment of a new nation, a democratic Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and security. We meet to help bring an end to the violence that has been the true enemy of the aspirations of both the Israelis and Palestinians. . . .
I’m about to read a statement that was agreed upon by our distinguished guests:
“The representatives of the government of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, represented respectively by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and President Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and president of the Palestinian Authority, have convened in Annapolis, Maryland, under the auspices of President George W. Bush of the United States of America, and with the support of the participants of this international conference, having concluded the following joint understanding.
“We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis. In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception, as specified in previous agreements.
“We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008. For this purpose, a steering committee, led jointly by the head of the delegation of each party, will meet continuously, as agreed. The steering committee will develop a joint work plan and establish and oversee the work of negotiations teams to address all issues, to be headed by one lead representative from each party. . . .
“The parties also commit to immediately implement their respective obligations under the performance-based road map to a permanent two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, issued by the Quartet on 30 April 2003—this is called the road map—and agree to form an American, Palestinian and Israeli mechanism, led by the United States, to follow up on the implementation of the road map.
“The parties further commit to continue the implementation of the ongoing obligations of the road map until they reach a peace treaty. The United States will monitor and judge the fulfillment of the commitment of both sides of the road map.
“Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, implementation of the future peace treaty will be subject to the implementation of the road map, as judged by the United States.”
1 Translated by Sylvia G. Haim.
2 Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918-45, Series D, Vol. XIII, London, 1964, pp. 881 ff.
3 Al Ahram, (May 26, 1967)
4 The text of an address by Rabin on the occasion of receiving an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University.
5 The text of a speech given at the National Congress of the Arab Socialist Union at Cairo University, Cairo.
6 Reprinted by special permission from Adelphi Papers No. 53 (December, 1968), “Fedayeen Action and Arab Strategy.” Institute of Strategic Studies, London.
7 Passed by the Central Committee of Fatah.
8 From an article originally published in 1970, with a postscript of 1974. From Y. Harkabi: Palestinians and Israel, Jerusalem, 1974.
9 Prepared statement of Harold H. Saunders, Deputy Assistant Secretarty for Near Eastern and South Asian affairs, before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East.
10 Speech delivered by the Egyptian President before the Israeli Knesset.
11 Signed by leaders of the PLO’s constituent organizations in Tripoli, Libya.
12 The Arab League Summit Conference was held in Tripoli, Libya, December 2-5, 1977.
13 Speech to the Israeli Knesset.
14 This document was signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at Camp David, in Thurmont, Maryland.
15 This treaty was drawn up during the Camp David meetings.
16 The communiqué was issued in Baghdad, Iraq.
17 Speech delivered to the UN General Assembly by the Soviet Foreign Minister.
18 Interview in the Algerian newspaper Al-Sha’b.
19 Declaration by the European Council issued at the conclusion of a two-day conference in Venice.
20 Begin Government’s Second Coalition agreement.
21 Article in the Algerian newspaper Al-Sha’b.
22 The Egyptian President’s inaugural address.
23 Speech by Defense Minister Ariel Sharon at the Center for Strategic Studies, Tel Aviv University.
24 Excerpts from an article in Foreign Affairs, Spring 1982. Yitzhak Shamir became Israel’s Foreign Minister in March 1980 and its Prime Minister in October 1983.
25 Excerpts from an article in Foreign Affairs, Spring 1982.
26 Confirmation hearing for the Secretary of State—designate before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
27 Speech delivered at the National Defense College in Israel.
28 The Twelfth Arab Summit Conference convened in Fez, Morocco, on November 25, 1981, was adjourned, and resumed again on September 6, 1982.
29 Excerpts from an article in Foreign Affairs, Fall 1982.
30 Excerpts from the report of the Kahan Commission to investigate the massacre at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, which was signed by Chairman Yitzhak Kahan and members Aharon Barak and Yona Efrat.
31 PNC Political Statement issued in Algiers at the concluding session.
32 The article was published in The New Republic, March 21, 1983, reprinted by permission of The New Republic, © 1983, The New Republic, Inc.
33 Composed of the breakaway force of Major Saad Haddad.
34 Excerpts from an interview by Al-Watan (Kuwait) with Said Musa (Abu Musa), of the anti-Arafat revolt in the PLO.
35 Excerpts from an Interview with Fatah Central committee member Khalid al-Hasan in Al-Hawadith (London).
36 Interview with Vjesnik (Zagreb), December 8, 1990.
37 Interview with Mideast Mirror, October 9, 1993
38 Yediot Ahronof January 27, 1995; FBIS January 30, 1995.
39 Interview with the Fatah secretary-general of the West Bank by Le Monde, October 26, 2000, reprinted with permission.
40 Ha’aretz, December 31, 2000.
41 Ha’aretz, reprinted with permission.
42 Speech at the Israel Policy Forum in New York.
43 Translation by Middle East Media and Research Institute.
44 Translation by Middle East Media and Research Institute.
45 Translation by Middle East Media and Research Institute.
46 Translation by Middle East Media and Research Institute.
The Israel-Arab Reader Page 90
