ABBAS AID CAUGHT SMUGGLING 2,000 CELL PHONES

Israel Seizes 2,000 Cell Phones from Palestinian Official (AFP/Khaleej Times-Dubai)

Israeli authorities on Tuesday seized 2,000 cell phones found in the car of senior Palestinian official and Abbas aide Rawhi Fattuh - who enjoys VIP status - as he was returning from Jordan, IDF military spokesman Peter Lerner said on Wednesday.

Jihad Watch points out that there are "[a]ll kinds of things you can do with cell phones -- including setting up a bomb to be set off from afar. Of course, maybe he just wanted to call 2,000 Western officials to beg for more money and aid."

ABBAS SAYS ISRAEL "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN JERUSALEM

Abbas Says Israel "Ethnic Cleansing" in Jerusalem - Alistair Thomson
Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing" in eastern Jerusalem at a summit of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal. Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's spokesman, Mark Regev, said: "The peace process faces many obstacles and leadership should not be contributing to those obstacles through inflammatory statements." (Reuters)

See also U.S.: Abbas' Accusation "An Example of Overheated Political Rhetoric"
Asked about Abbas' comment accusing the Israelis of ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday: "Certainly we would not use that term to describe the situation. I think it is probably an example of some overheated political rhetoric." (State Department)

See also Construction in Jerusalem: Myths and Facts - Justus Reid Weiner

The city of Jerusalem has authorized more than 36,000 permits for new housing units in the Arab sector, more than enough to meet the needs of Arab residents through legal construction until 2020. Arab residents who wish to build legally may consult urban plans translated into Arabic for their convenience and receive individual assistance from Arabic-speaking city employees. Both Arabs and Jews typically wait 4-6 weeks for permit approval, enjoy a similar rate of application approvals, and pay an identical fee for water and sewage hook-ups on the same size living unit.

The same procedures for administrative demolition orders apply to both Jews and Arabs in all parts of the city, as a final backstop to remove structures built illegally on roadbeds or land designated for schools, clinics, and the like. The PA and Arab governments have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in an intentional campaign to subsidize and encourage massive illegal construction in the Arab sector, seeing this as part of their "demographic war" against Israel. The Arab population of the city has increased since 1967 from 27% to 32%. Moreover, since 1967 new Arab construction has outpaced Jewish construction. (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

IN THE WEST BANK, IDF FIGHTS TERROR AND PROPS UP ABBAS

Israel's War on Terror in the West Bank - Tim McGirk (TIME)
Just because fewer Palestinian terrorists are slipping into Israel from the West Bank doesn't mean that they have stopped trying.  Says an officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF): "Our people sleep comfortably in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv because the IDF is putting in a huge effort, day and night, in the West Bank to prevent terror."  Last year more than 6,650 suspected Palestinian militants were rounded up, among them, claim Israeli intelligence officers, 279 potential suicide bombers.

IDF troops, in effect, prop up Mahmoud Abbas. Without the presence of Israeli troops, his advisers concede, the West Bank would soon fall to Hamas militants, just as Gaza did last June.  Israel's domestic intelligence service, Shin Bet, claims that in 2007 it foiled 29 suicide attacks.

SEE ALSO: Fatah Military Wing Tells Abbas to Fire Fayad, Band with Hamas - Khaled Abu Toameh (Jerusalem Post)

Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, called on Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday to fire Prime Minister Salaam Fayad and "form a new government that would not abandon the armed struggle," in a leaflet distributed in Ramallah. It also called on Abbas to stop all contacts with Israel.

Several Fatah officials have accused Fayad of refusing to give their representatives enough jobs and salaries in the PA government.   They are also angry with Fayad because of his decision to stop paying salaries to thousands of Fatah members.

SEE ALSO: Hizbullah Becoming More Visible in West Bank

A Hizbullah flag, along with Hamas banners, adorned the home of a Palestinian man who was killed after gunning down eight Israeli students in Jerusalem last week. Hizbullah has long operated behind the scenes in the Palestinian territories, funneling millions of dollars to militant groups for attacks against Israel, according to Israeli and Palestinian security officials. Hizbullah's influence has become increasingly visible in the West Bank since last month's assassination of its military chief, Imad Mughniyeh.

On Thursday, mourners marching in a funeral procession for four Palestinian militants killed in Bethlehem chanted, "Hizbullah is coming." The bodies of local Islamic Jihad leader Mohammed Shehadeh and another militant were wrapped in Hizbullah flags. Shehadeh had converted from Sunni to Shiite Islam in a show of support for Hizbullah, said his cousin, Khalil. (AP/International Herald Tribune)

ABBAS LETS DOWN GUARD TO JORDANIAN PRESS

Abbas in Briefing to Jordanian Daily Al-Dustour : I Am Against the Armed Struggle – But In Future Stages Things May Change (MEMRI)

On February 28, 2008, the Jordanian daily Al-Dustour published a summary of a briefing given to its editorial staff by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.  The following are excerpts from Al-Dustour's summary of the briefing:

We Oppose the Concept of a Jewish State

"In Abbas's opinion, the Annapolis summit gave a boost to the political peace process, which we would like to see proceed according to the Road Map plan, incorporating the Arab [i.e. Saudi] initiative and U.S. President George Bush's vision. [The Road Map] calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state and an end of the occupation of the territories occupied in 1967. It is well known that the Road Map plan has become international [i.e. U.N. Security Council] Resolution No. 1515.

"However, while we cannot say that any significant results have been achieved so far, we are on our way, and aspire to reach a satisfactory solution before the end of 2008 – [a solution] that will end the conflict and ensure peace in the Middle East. Abbas added that when such a solution is reached, it will be presented to the Palestinian people, so that it can express its opinion. If [the Palestinian people] accept the plan, well and good! If they reject it, this will mean that they reject us [as well].

"Abbas stressed that he is opposed to the so-called 'Jewish state,' saying, We already rejected such a proposal at the Annapolis summit, last November in the U.S. [In fact,] the summit almost broke up over this issue. We were asked at the time [to agree] that the summit's concluding statement should refer to the Jewish state – but we categorically objected to this..."

I Never Asked Hamas to Recognize Israel

"As regards recognizing Israel, Abbas said: I never asked Hamas to recognize Israel; I only asked this of the national unity government, which maintained contacts with Israel. This is what I said to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and he supported me. Hamas ran in the elections on the basis of the Oslo accords, which recognize Israel. Nor am I the only one to demand recognition of Israel: indeed, the Arab initiative – which enjoys an Arab Muslim consensus – is prepared to [recognize Israel] if it withdraws from all territories occupied since 1967..."

I Am Against the Armed Struggle; However, in Future Stages Things may Change

"About the resistance, Abbas said: It was I who, in 1965, had the honor of firing the first bullet. Many people, locally and abroad, know the resistance for what it is, how and under what circumstances it brings pride – and when it does not, what benefit can be derived from it, and what constitutes serious, genuine, and effective resistance. It is also commonly known when resistance may cause harm, and when the time, place, and circumstances are auspicious.

"[Abbas continued:] We [Fatah] had the honor of leading the resistance. We instructed everyone, including Hizbullah, as to what the resistance means. They were educated in our camps... At this time, I object to the armed struggle, since we are unable to conduct it; however, in future stages things may change..."

ABBAS: IDF ACTION WORSE THAN HOLOCAUST

Abbas: IDF action worse than Holocaust

(JPost)

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas labeled Israel's actions to counter the constant firing of rockets into the Gaza Strip "worse than the Holocaust."

Abbas said that Israel's response to the continuous bombardment of western Negev towns by Palestinian terrorists was too severe, saying that its operations which have left at least 33 Palestinians dead on Saturday were unacceptable retaliation to the firing of rockets.

The Fatah head was not the only Palestinian leader to be associating the military maneuvers with the Holocaust - exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal described the operations as "the real Holocaust" on Saturday afternoon.

"Israeli actions in Gaza since Wednesday is the real Holocaust," Mashaal told reporters in Damascus, where he lives in exile.

He accused Israel of "exaggerating the Holocaust and using it to blackmail the world."

ABBAS THREATENS TO "RESUME" TERROR

Report: Abbas Does Not Rule Out Resuming Armed Conflict with Israel - Roee Nahmias (Ynet News)
Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he does not completely rule out the possibility of resuming the armed conflict with Israel.  In an interview with the Jordanian newspaper al-Dustur, Abbas said he is against an armed conflict at this time, but things may differ in the future.

Abbas also said he objects to Israel's definition as a Jewish state: "We negated the concept in the Annapolis peace conference and it almost ended because of it...they wanted us to state we recognize Israel as a Jewish state in the closing statements, but we wouldn't hear of it."

ABBAS KNEW ABOUT PLANNED HAMAS TAKEOVER OF GAZA

Abbas Knew?

NOAH POLLAK - (CONTENTIONS)

Here’s something that has gone almost completely unremarked upon in America:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his security chiefs had detailed evidence of Hamas’ plans to seize Gaza, yet did not mobilize to stop the Islamic militants, an investigation concluded Saturday.

The 76-page report, which was ordered by Abbas, did not hold him, security adviser Mohammed Dahlan or any other political leaders responsible for the takeover in June.

So this is the crew that the U.S. government is currently dumping hundreds of millions of dollars on? This is the gang of buffoons and incompetents that the world demands Israel trust to deal with terrorists in the West Bank? According to the very report Abbas commission, when he received information that his own government was going to be usurped in Gaza, he shrugged his shoulders and did nothing — but we expect that he is going to leap into action like a superhero to stop the same terrorists from killing Jews in Israel?

Someone should really ask Condi about this.

ABBAS: IF PEACE NOT ACHIEVED IN 2008, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN

Abbas: If peace not achieved in 2008, it will never happen (JPost)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged the US on Monday to make good on its promise to work for a Middle East peace settlement by the end of the year, warning that there would not be any future chances.

Abbas spoke following a closed door meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah in the Jordanian capital of Amman and warned that if the Bush administration didn't make good on its pledge to "make 2008 the year to broker peace, then there will never be any future chances to achieve this goal."

The Palestinians and Israelis are negotiating a final peace settlement, which the Bush administration hopes would lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state later this year.

The US "must understand it is to play an active role, not just as a supervisor, by intervening directly to help make peace," Abbas told reporters. He also urged Israel "to stop escalating the situation in the Palestinian territories and stop all attacks in the Gaza Strip, including firing missiles there."

ABBAS PLOTTING TO KILL HANIYEH?

'Plot to kill Haniyeh uncovered' (JPost)

Hamas broadcasts confessions of suspects claiming to have been instructed by Abbas aides.

Hamas on Saturday accused their rivals in the West Bank of being behind an alleged plot to assassinate a top Hamas official, and said they are less inclined now to try to mend the deepening rift between the two political camps.

In the past, Hamas repeatedly asked Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to resume contacts that were broken off after Hamas seized control of Gaza by force in June and ousted forces loyal to Abbas. The Palestinian president has said he will only talk to Hamas if it steps aside in Gaza.

At a Gaza City news conference Saturday, Hamas broadcast videotaped confessions of alleged suspects, including several who said they received instructions from Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a senior Abbas aide, to assassinate Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

Abbas' office dismissed the allegations as fiction and denounced Hamas as an "outlaw movement."

One of the alleged suspects, Nafez Dabaki, said in the video that he had been offered 50,000 Jordanian dinars ($70,500, euro48,000) if he blew himself up at a mosque where Haniyeh was praying. Dabaki said he was asked three times to carry out the attack, but didn't go through with it.

Another alleged assailant, Mohammed Kheil, said he had been asked to kill Haniyeh at a public rally. Kheil said he carried 25 kilos of explosives in a backpack, but said he was spooked by security guards at the rally and left.

Said Siyam, a senior Hamas official, told the news conference that Hamas is increasingly less inclined to engage in dialogue with Abbas and his aides.

REPORT: ABBAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGEV ROCKETS

Debka Report: Abbas Responsible for Negev Rockets (Yid with a lid)
About a year ago, Aaron Klein of WND reported that many of the rockets fired from Gaza into the Negev were fired by the fatah controlled Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade under the express orders of "moderate peace partner Mahmoud Abbas. (see Gaza "Rocket Man": Abbas Tells Us What to Do)

Today Debkafiles is confirming that report confirming that up to 1/3 of Gaza missiles are under Abbas' orders..now THAT is an impediment to peace.

ARAFAT AIDE: ARAFAT CREATED BLACK SEPTEMBER

Former aide admits Arafat founded Black September (Elder of Zyion)

Ma'an (Arabic) reports that a series of articles being authored by longtime Arafat aide Marwan Kanafani in Egypt's Al Ahram will say that it was Yasir Arafat himself who created the Black September organization in 1970. Black September was behind many of the highest-profile terror attacks in the early 1970s, including the murder of Jordanian Prime Minister Wasfi Tel, the Munich Olympic massacre, the May 1972 hijacking of a Belgian airliner from Vienna, dozens of letter bombs including at one that killed an Israeli politician in London, and the murder of two US diplomats in Khartoum. The PLO always used Black September for plausible deniability, claiming that the deadliest BSO attacks had nothing to do with them. Although many historians had already made the connection between the two groups, the US State Department wrote a confidential memo in 1973 (released in 1981) showing connections between the groups, and the State Department also had linked Fatah and Arafat directly to the Khartoum murders, this appears to be the first confirmation by someone in Arafat's inner circle that it was Arafat himself who was the founder of Black September and personally in charge of operations. And we know that the current Palestinian Arab President Mahmoud Abbas was also involved in Black September, specifically in the Munich massacre. UPDATE: The English-language Ma'an article can be found here.

ABBAS DISCARDS 2ND STAGE OF ROADMAP

Abbas discards second stage of Roadmap (ELDER OF ZYION)

AP reports: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he has rejected the concept of a provisional Palestinian state out of concern that the temporary borders of such an entity would become permanent. Abbas told Palestinian lawmakers that during last week's Mideast summit in Annapolis, Md., the idea of a provisional state was brought up, but he turned it down — although it is a key part of the internationally backed "road map" formula for creating a Palestinian state. The border issue is but one of the many hurdles facing negotiators to the talks, which are set to begin Dec. 12. The second step of the three-stage road map calls for "creating an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty." Creating temporary borders would allow the Palestinians to have independence, while giving the sides more time to work out contentious issues like the final status of disputed Jerusalem. Here is the beginning of the Roadmap's description of Phase II: In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way station to a permanent status settlement. As has been noted, this goal can be achieved when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror, willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty. With such a leadership, reformed civil institutions and security structures, the Palestinians will have the active support of the Quartet and the broader international community in establishing an independent, viable, state. Progress into Phase II will be based upon the consensus judgment of the Quartet of whether conditions are appropriate to proceed, taking into account performance of both parties. Notice a pattern here? Abbas pretends to embrace the roadmap, but he utterly rejects any part of it where the PalArabs are asked to take any responsibility whatsoever. He knows that if the Palestinian Arabs need to pass any test whatsoever before reaching the next stage they will inevitably, invariably fail using any objective criteria. So this is why he insisted on skipping past Phase I and now phase II - he wants a state to be handed to his utterly incompetent, infantilized people on a silver platter. They "deserve" it. The funny thing that Annapolis advocates like to ignore is that there already is a "independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty," namely, the Hamas government of Gaza. Look how successful that has been! Gaza is the most accurate indicator of what a "Palestine" in the West Bank would look like - perhaps not run by Hamas, but equally cynically dismissive of human rights and peaceful coexistence.

ABBAS CRACKS DOWN ON WEST BANK FREEDOMS

Mahmoud Abbas: Strongman? (BackSpin)

Is Mahmoud Abbas cracking down on Palestinian journalists to show he's a strongman? Sure seems that way. The International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) reports that one its news producers, Ghassan Bannoura, was beaten by PA police while on his way to cover an anti-Annapolis protest in Bethlehem.

The police confiscated Bannoura's cell phone and camera and beat Bannoura with batons and rifle butts, fracturing the 27-year-old arm and leg. Dion Nissenbaum ofMcClatchy News comments:

The PA crackdown on reporters was followed by a fatal clash with demonstrators in Hebron at which one anti-Annapolis protester was shot and killed by PA forces.

The PA crackdown has many people wondering what Abbas is up to.

One prominent theory is that Abbas, long criticized as weak and unable to control the "Palestinian street," is trying to do just that.

UPDATE Dec. 2: Abbas' forces have resumed forcibly shaving Hamas beards.

INCITEMENT AND CIRCULAR REASONING

Strengthening the Palestinians Again - Natan Sharansky
I asked a player from the international elements engaged in building up the Palestinian economy why they weren't making aid to Mahmoud Abbas contingent on stopping the anti-Israeli incitement on the official television channel and in the Palestinian education system. He replied, "Abbas is so weak, and this is not a popular step. First of all, it is necessary to strengthen him and afterward it will be possible to demand something of him." I have never understood this strange reasoning: Once anti-Israeli positions have made him popular, he will suddenly lead his people toward peace?

It is true that to carry out courageous reforms and educate the people to peace, a strong and bold leader is needed. Leaders like that, who understand the need for education toward peace and reforms, do exist - but not in the Muqata in Ramallah. These are people who are not afraid to challenge the tyranny of the weak leader and who believe in building a civil society as a necessary foundation for any progress on the road to peace. It is true that they are weak, but for one reason only: We ourselves are weakening them by giving unreserved support to "moderate" tyrants. It is precisely the strengthening of an antidemocratic regime and the absence of an alternative that are pushing the public into the arms of fundamentalists, into the arms of Hamas.

Another generation of Palestinians is being educated to hatred, violence and the aspiration to destroy Israel. A look back over the years since the Oslo Accords shows clearly that the direction in which Palestinian society has marched is not the direction of peace. Annapolis is doomed to failure because it is built on distorted reasoning to the effect that it is possible to move ahead and make a deal with some leader and totally ignore what is really happening in Palestinian society. (Ha'aretz)

JUST LIKE YOUR BUBBE!

Let's Give Them a State! (LGF)
A Palestinian grandmother demonstrates her readiness for statehood:
A Palestinian woman holds up a pistol as she stands in front of a banner showing the late leader Yasser Arafat and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, top left, during a rally to mark the 19th anniversary of the Palestinians’ declaration of independence, in the West Bank town of Jenin, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)

ABBAS UNVEILS SHRINE TO ARAFAT

Palestinians unveil Arafat shrine (GulfNews)
Ramallah: A ceremony was held in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday as Palestinians unveiled a stone mausoleum for Yasser Arafat.

The building, made of glass and beige Jerusalem stone, is surrounded on three sides by water, and a piece of train track was entombed under Arafat's grave.

The water and the track symbolise the mausoleum is temporary and that Arafat, who died in 2004, has not reached his final resting place.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas started proceedings by laying a wreath at Arafat's tomb, at the compound where Arafat spent his last two years besieged by Israeli forces.

In a short speech, Abbas called for the "president and martyr Yasser Arafat to be buried in Jerusalem, which he loved, and where he was born, and which our entire people is determined will be the capital of a Palestinian state."

ABBAS TO ARAB WORLD: DON'T RECOGNIZE ISRAEL

Abbas to Arab World: Don't Recognize Israel
(IsraelNN.com) According to A-Sharq Al-Awsat, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has asked Arab nations not to recognize Israel until Israel agrees to give away Judea, Samaria, and all of the Jerusalem neighborhoods regained in the Six Day War. Abbas reportedly said that Arab countries do not need to promote the normalization of relations with Israel. Arab countries have already made their demands clear, and now Israel must make the next step, he said.

ABBAS BACKS OUT OF PEACE CONFERENCE

'We won't attend ME talks at any price' (JPost)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday that the Palestinians won't go to the Annapolis conference "at any price."

His comments came as senior PA officials said it was almost certain that the conference would be postponed because of the failure of Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to achieve progress on any of the fundamental issues, such as Jerusalem, the borders and refugees.

One official described Rice's current shuttle mission as a failure, saying she had failed to persuade Israel to change its "tough" position regarding Palestinian demands.

The Palestinians are demanding a comprehensive agreement with Israel on all the core issues before the conference, as well as an agreement on a fixed timetable for implementing the accord.

"I doubt if we will go the conference," said a top PA official. "The Americans and Israelis are not serious. We don't want to make fools out of ourselves."

"We can't waste more time," Abbas told reporters after meeting with Rice. "We can't go the conference at any price. This is unacceptable."

ABBAS SPOKESMAN: NEGOTIATIONS WITH ISRAEL JUST ANOTHER FORM OF "RESISTANCE"

Fatah spokesman in Arabic: Negotiations with Israel just another form of "resistance" (Elder of Zyion)
The Palestine Press Agency reports in Arabic (autotranslated):

(Ahmed) Abdul Rahman (senior advisor to Mahmoud Abbas) confirmed that the negotiations are a form of work for the Palestinian resistance option and Palestinian ending the oppressive Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Abdul Rahman added, "If the Israelis Mtandin negotiator with the Palestinian side does not mean that despair, but we will continue to work through all possible means to us, explaining that one of the forms of struggle that is the international conference called for by President Bush, especially since many of the officials said that the hour is hours of an independent Palestinian state and an end to Israeli occupation....

Abdul Rahman stressed that the issue of concessions is not included final and the Palestinian side had nothing to give him, but we have what we want to Nabdeh to end the Israeli occupation.

The word "struggle" is a code word for "terror", so Abbas' senior advisor is mollifying the bloodthirsty Palestinian Arab population by saying that negotiations are just another form of "resistance" aimed at getting everything from Israel without any compromise on the Palestinian Arab side. He also makes very clear that terror is still a very viable option for Fatah as a means to extract more from Israel - even after successful negotiations.

You will not find any Western media translating this interview.

ABBAS: OLSO OFFER NO GOOD, WANTS ALL PRE-'67 LAND

Rice says talks 'gaining momentum' (JPost)
The dialogue between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has gained momentum, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview to CBS. Rice said that during the last round of trilateral talks, in February, Olmert and Abbas had "barely [agreed] to speak to each other, let alone speak about anything of importance."

The secretary of state also said that support in the Arab world for Abbas was critical and pointed out that Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair's mission had also "helped people focus on the institutions of statehood, the building of capacity to govern."

Turning to the situation in the Gaza Strip, Rice said that Gaza was not separate from the Palestinian Authority. There aren't two Palestinian [Authorities], Rice said. Rather, she asserted, there was the West Bank and Gaza, and there was going to be a Palestinian state under the leadership of Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad.

At some point, Rice said, Hamas will have to make a choice: "is it prepared to be outside that consensus or not; is it prepared to be outside the Arab consensus or not?"

Meanwhile, Abbas told the Washington Post, in an interview published Sunday, that an offer similar to the 92 percent of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for a Palestinian state extended at Camp David in 2000 would not be enough.

He insisted on the pre-1967 borders, speaking ahead of Tuesday's scheduled meeting with Olmert in his Jerusalem succa to discuss a memorandum of understanding on principles for a peace deal.

We will be flexible," said Abbas. "But before 1947, we had 95% of Palestine. In 1937, the partition plan gave the Israelis only part of Palestine. And they were very happy at that time. [David] Ben-Gurion was very happy with it. It didn't work. After that [came] the 1947 partition plan - we rejected this, so we lost... Now, we accept [the pre-'67 borders]." [ED. THERE ARE SO MANY LIES AND MISREPRESENTATIONS IN THESE STATEMENTS THAT I WOULD GET CARPEL TUNNEL SETTING THEM ALL OUT].

He added that like Arafat, he too would have rejected the offer Bill Clinton made at Camp David in 2000. "Ninety-two [percent] is unacceptable to us," Abbas said. ....

Abbas reiterated his government's position that the key to solving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians was directly addressing the "final status" issues, including Palestinian statehood, the status of Jerusalem and the right of return for refugees.

Also Friday, Abbas told AFP he thought a final agreement could be hammered out within six months of the November talks.

In his Washington Post interview, Abbas gave a nod in the direction of Vice Premier Haim Ramon's idea of giving the Palestinians parts of east Jerusalem.

"In principle, this is the right direction. The Palestinians should have their own part and the Israelis should have their own part... I say and have always said that east Jerusalem is an occupied territory. We have to restore it."

Asked if he would demand to return to his birthplace, Safed, Abbas said: "This is my right, but how I will use this right is up to me and to the refugees and to the agreement which will take place between us."

"We want to find a permanent solution," added Abbas. "The Israelis want security, and we are in need of independence. We want to bridge the gap during the negotiations."

"We should have a safe passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank because Gaza is a part of Palestine... all the Arabs support this vision," he continued.

Abbas said he was not interested in returning to a national unity government with Hamas.

Abbas said Olmert was a sincere and serious leader who wanted to make peace. "I know his internal problems. But he is determined to do something," he added.

In his talks with Olmert, Abbas said, "We tackled all the sensitive issues like borders, refugees, settlements, Jerusalem and security... We have already established the teams that are drafting an agreement about these sensitive issues.

"After the conference, we will start negotiating the details of these issues in order to have a peace treaty," said Abbas.