Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday adopted a wait-and-see strategy on the Palestinian unity government deal reached in Mecca last week, while Cabinet vowed to continue construction at the Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem.In Amman, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel had no choice but to accept the new government. “This is a Palestinian issue and an Arab issue and it is up to the Israelis to deal with the fait accompli,” Abbas said before meeting Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit. Bakhit was briefed by Abbas on the Mecca agreement, under which, he said, a Palestinian unity government should be formed “as soon as possible, paving the way for the resumption of the peace process”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
“Israel neither rejects nor accepts the agreements,” Olmert said during the Israeli Cabinet’s weekly meeting. “At this stage, we, like the international community are learning what was exactly accomplished and what was said.”
Israeli officials said the Mecca agreement would not affect a scheduled summit between Olmert, Abbas and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, set for February 19. Olmert reiterated Israeli demands that any new Palestinian government accept the three conditions set by the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators for ending the economic sanctions imposed on the Palestinian Authority after Hamas formed a government. “At the end of the meeting in Mecca, as far as we are concerned, there was no Palestinian announcement that included an agreement on the three principles,” an Israeli official quoted Olmert as telling his Cabinet.
The cautious line was an echo of that adopted by Washington. The Mecca agreement made no explicit mention of any formal Hamas recognition of Israel and spoke of “respect” for previously signed agreements rather than adherence, wording that the US and Israel has previously rejected. But Israel and the US may face significant opposition if they should decide to continue the freeze on funding to the Palestinian Authority. Arab and Muslim countries have all welcomed the Mecca agreement and one Quartet member, Russia, has already urged that the freeze be lifted.