The
Palestinians emerged empty-handed from the much publicized
Sharon-Abbas summit.
"None
of the issues improved or progressed up to the levels of our people's
expectations," Palestinian Premier Ahmed Qurei told reporters
late Tuesday.
"Overall
what was presented to us was not convincing or satisfying at all,”
said Qurei after Abbas failed to attend a prepared post-summit news
conference in Ramallah.
There
was no disguising the disappointment in the Palestinian press.
"Below
expectations," ran the banner over the editorial in the leading Al-Quds
newspaper.
"Israel
met each Palestinian request with unacceptable conditions pretty much
beyond the capabilities of the Palestinian Authority," it said.
"We
will see in the coming days and weeks whether Israel changes its
negative attitude and whether the United States translates their
promises and soothing declarations into action on the ground,"
added the Palestinian newspaper.
Abbas
was seeking progress on a range of issues such as the release of
prisoners, security control over parts of the West Bank, the
separation wall and settlements expansion.
The
arguments over security dominated the agenda, leaving little room for
discussion about how to coordinate this summer's Israeli pullout from
Gaza Strip.
Sharon
made clear that any progress in the peace process was dependent on the
factions being brought to heel.
"We
want to make progress with the Palestinians so we can implement the
roadmap but that will not be possible until there is a complete end to
terrorist attacks," Sharon said in comments broadcast by Israeli
public television.
His
spokesman Raanan Gissin said Israel offered to transfer security
control to the Palestinians in the West Bank towns of Bethlehem and
Qalqilya provided the Palestinians act against “militants” -- a
proviso that has halted similar transfers in the past.
Assassinations
Resumed
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"Any means to neutralize the organization (Islamic Jihad) are relevant and possible," said Ezra.
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Just
few hours after the fiasco summit, Tel Aviv confirmed the resumption
of its assassination policy targeting Palestinian resistance
activists, reported Reuters.
Israeli
officials said they decided to target Islamic Jihad activists,
confirming a botched missile strike in Gaza at the time Sharon and
Abbas were meeting in West Jerusalem.
“There
was an attempt in Gaza to intercept an (Islamic Jihad) activist
yesterday. It was unsuccessful,” Israeli Public Security Minister
Gideon Ezra said.
"An
opportunity presented itself. Any means to neutralize the organization
are relevant and possible."
Israeli
air forces drones have been hovering at low altitude over Gaza since
Monday, June 20, evening in an indication of preparedness for renewed
lightning strikes on resistance fighters.
Khaled
Al-Batsh, a senior Islamic Jihad leader, warned of “terrible
consequences” if Israel resumed assassinations.
"This
decision is meant to escalate violence against our people. The calm
would thereby end. We will not be dictated to by Israel," he told
Reuters.
Just
hours before the Sharon-Abbas summit Israeli troops rounded up 52
Islamic Jihad activists in the West Bank in the biggest sweep since
the two men declared the quasi-truce.
The
policy Israel describes as "targeted killings" of resistance
fighters was shelved in February as part of a ceasefire deal between
Sharon and Abbas in February.
Abbas
managed to convince Palestinian resistance factions in March to
observe a "period of calm" conditional on Israel ending its
aggressions against them.
Since
then, the calm has been put to the test several times in view of
continued Israeli violations.
Over
the past three months, many Palestinians were killed and wounded by
Israeli gunfire, drawing retaliatory mortar and rocket attacks from
Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters on Jewish settlements in the occupied
territories.
