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Name
Essam
- Ireland
Profession
Question
Did Mr. Qurei really mean it when he said he’d call for a bi-national state, or was he merely saying it to pressure Israel? I’m not sure a joint Palestinian-Jewish state is what the PNA really want…
Answer
It is very clear that Mr. Querei only made the statement after Israel attempted to shut out the question of a Palestinain state. His proposal was discussed and approved by the various Palestinian Authority legislative entities.
It was not an initiative, rather it was an answer to Israel's insistence on rejecting a Palestinian state.
Name
Tracy Hardt
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
How has Premier Qurei been able to survive so longs as PM? I’ve not heard strong statements against him by Hamas, as there were with Abu Mazen. How long will it be before he’s forced into a position that will oblige him to compromise with the Israelis?
Answer
Very soon, I think. The Political Committee is scheduling a meeting with the Prime Minister, and will submit a report on the development of the political situation early next week to the Palestinian Counsel, which will necessitate a reaction from the Prime Minister. He should then state the position of his government in light of the challenges facing the Palestinians politically and domestically.
Name
Karl S.
- Germany
Profession
Question
What significance is there to a state that would have a massive Palestinian majority? The Israelis already treat Arab Israelis terribly and illegally; do you expect things to change if more Arabs are introduced into Israel as citizens?
Answer
I do not believe the question is fair, because it is predicated on an unfair assumption. Mr. Qurei was not introducing a new initiative, rather, he was making a response based on the political environment prevalent at the time of the statement.
Name
Abdullah
- Egypt
Profession
Question
What exactly is the role of the Palestinian legislative council? And what are your relations with Hamas and the Islamic armed factions?
Answer
The Palestinian Legislative Council is formed of the elected representatives of the Palestinian people who reside in the territories. All of its members are also members of the Palestinian National Council, which represents all Palestinians, at home and abroad. The responsibilities of the Palestinian Legislative Council are exactly the same responsibilities of any other parliment in the world, i.e. issuing laws, and overseeing the government's performance. In this capacity, the PLC members have a responsibility towards all the citizens of Palestine, including the various political parties.
I am also a member of the Council and Chairman of the Political Committee (External Affairs Comittee), and a member of the Coordination Committee of the National and Islamic Parties.
Name
Yasser
- Iran
Profession
Question
What is the point of even making a threat like the one Qurei made? How can he carry it out anyway? The Israelis definitely won’t accept; so how likely is it the international community will attempt to force something like this on Israel?
Answer
What threat?
Name
Jacob
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Propaganda about Arafat’s glory and his omniscience and self-sacrifice aside, isn’t it about time the Chairman was removed from his post and elections were held for a new popular leader to get Palestine out of this mess?
Answer
No to the first part of the question. Yes to the second part. No because Mr. Arafat was elected to this post by the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian people, why should he then stand for another presidential election?
As for the yes, the Legislative Council is calling for that. It only requires that somebody presuade the Israelis to let that happen, meaning that the Israelis should stop their occupation of Palestine's land and should allow for elections and facilitate the presence of international observers, as happened in the 1996 election.
Name
Wessam
- Egypt
Profession
Question
We've heard terms used to describe the Palestinian state; among them "secular state." In your opinion, does this differ from the understanding of a bi-national state?
Answer
Well, the only description that has been adopted by the Palestinian National and Legislative Councils, as well as by the various Palestinian political parties, including Hamas, is the following:
A Palestinian state on the territories that were occupied by Israel in 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital.
There is a difference among the political parties about identifying the term "1967" or not. The other specifications and suggestions pertaining to the nature of the state are not relavant when compared to the national specifications and descriptions of nature of the required state.
Name
Mujahid
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Calls for a bi-national state were also made by some Palestinians in the Knesset, including Azmi Bishara and Mohamed El Tayebi. Does this mean that the ministries of Education and Culture and Information will be divided equally among both nationalities? Or will it be dominated by the Israelis, which means a continuing of the Judaization of the Palestinians?
Answer
Again, I have to say that one should question and discuss the official positions of any state, rather than concentrate on unofficial or personal or private positions as it stands now. Officially nobody within the Palestinian Authority has adopted any other concept of a Palestinian state except the one that was adopted by the highest Palestinian authority, which is the PNC. I share with you the worries that you mentioned in your question, and I am personally against such suggestions.
Name
Ahmed
- Sudan
Profession
Question
The Israeli method of propaganda in the West is based on promoting Israel as "God's land," awaiting the return of the Messiah. Is it possible for the Zionist mind to comprehend such a transformation from a political entity and from a racist, one-nation state into either a bi-national state or a secular state?
Answer
I have stated in this program our position regarding the bi-national state, and I hope that you have read it. However, I agree with you that diverting a political ideology into a sectarian concept is an extreme danger to peace and stability in this world. We, as Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, respect all religions and expect others to respect our religion.
[Editor: We apologize for ending the live dialogue early. This is due to pressing engagements on the part of our guest, and in consideration of the sensitive nature and demands of his position.]
