The Political Advisor of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Wednesday afternoon that the Palestinian Authority might consider the Special UN envoy to the UN, Terje Roed-Larsen as unwelcome in the Palestinian areas.
Abu Rudeineh referred to Larsen’s monthly report to the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Palestinian areas on Tuesday as inaccurate, imbalanced and unjust.
Larsen accused in his statement that the Palestinian Authority is not fulfilling its core obligations to stop the resistance and accused Arafat of not supporting the Egyptian efforts efficiently.
‘The PA, despite consistent promises by its leadership, has made no progress on its core obligation to take immediate action on the ground to end violence and combat terror and to reform and reorganize the Palestinian Authority,’ Larsen said.
Despite that Arafat has been confined in his Ramallah headquarters since November 2001 and subject to virtual house arrest, Larsen said, ‘this is not an excuse for passivity and inaction.’
Palestinians have been highly angered by this statement and said this complies with the Israeli allegations and accusation to the PA.
‘Larsen’s statement finds justifications for the assaults and aggression Israel is committing in the Palestinian areas and finds excuses for Israel not to fulfill its obligations as an occupying power’ said Hassan Aby Libdeh, Secretary General of the Palestinian Cabinet.
Abu Libdeh also dismissed statements made by Richard Boucher, the U.S. Department of State spokesperson, in which he said that establishing a Palestinian State by the year 2005 is uncertain.
‘This statement completes the letter of assurances the U.S. gave to Israel.’ Abu Libdeh said.
On the other hand, Larsen also criticized Israel for failing to remove the unauthorized settlement outposts and freeze settlement building, something Israeli promised to do couple of months ago, and was not even started yet.
Larsen quoted a report from Peace Now’s settlement watch section claiming there are now 124 outposts in the West Bank.
‘The Israeli government has made no progress either on its core obligation to immediately dismantle the settlement outposts created since March 2001 and to move towards a complete freeze of settlement activities,’ Larsen said.
