Veteran PA senior negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat, a longtime associate of Yasser Arafat, announced on Tuesday that while the PA (Palestinian Authority) remains interested in peace and committed to the process, it will not be achieved “at any cost”, emphasizing the PA position, that the international community must exert increased pressure on Israel.

Erekat, like PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), is deemed a moderate, perhaps the suit and tie, but in essence, he and Abu Mazen have a focused agenda, one that demands Israel retreat unilaterally from areas liberated in 1967, and that much of Yerushalayim serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.

While Jerusalem remains uncertain as to Abu Mazen’s true intentions, officials continue to release statements exhibiting an air of optimism that negotiations between Israel and the PA will resume in the near future.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)