TEL AVIV, Israel, May 5 (UPI) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Friday phoned Israel's Ehud Olmert to congratulate him upon forming a new government, but the road to resuming peace talks still seems extremely long.
Friday morning's call seemed a natural sequence to Olmert's Thursday speech, in which he presented his new cabinet to the Knesset.
"From this podium," said Olmert, "I again address the elected president of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas. The government of Israel under my leadership prefers negotiations with a Palestinian Authority committed to the principles of the road map, which fights terror, dismantles terrorist organizations, abides by the rules of democracy and upholds, practically and thoroughly, all agreements which have thus far been signed with the State of Israel.
"Negotiation with such an Authority is the most stable and desired basis for the political process, which can lead to an agreement which will bring peace. This is what we desire.
"The guidelines of this government propose this. The parliamentary majority which will back the government policy is committed to this process," Olmert stated.
Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, would have willingly accepted Olmert's conditions. He opposed the armed Intifada even when it was not popular to say so on the Palestinian side. He accepted the internationally devised road map for peace and during his tenure the Palestinians held democratic elections that the radical Islamic Hamas won.
In an interview to the Israeli Maariv newspaper, published Thursday, Abu Mazen expressed readiness to resume peace talks immediately.
"The Hamas government... is not an obstacle to opening serious negotiations," he said. "I represent the Palestinian people... I was democratically elected by the Palestinian people to bring peace. I have a mandate to reach an agreement with Ehud Olmert... I believe that Ehud Olmert and I can find a common language."
Abu Mazen planned to overcome hardliner's objections by presenting the proposed agreement to a referendum. "I am sure that among the Palestinian people there is a sweeping majority for peace, a sweeping majority for an agreement with Israel," he said.
A public opinion poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research seemed to back Abbas' observation. It showed a slight increase in support for Hamas at Fatah's expense, but also an increase in the number of people "who identify themselves as supporters of the peace process," said the center's director Khalil Shikaki.
Seventy-one percent, "even among Hamas supporters want Hamas to negotiate," Shikaki told a workshop with the Hebrew University's Truman Center.
In Friday's phone call, Abbas "offered Prime Minister Olmert a partnership for peace between the Israeli and Palestinian sides," Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erakat told the local Maan news agency. Abbas suggested they meet; Olmert welcomed the idea and they will sit down together after the Israeli prime minister returns from his meeting with U.S. President George Bush. Olmert is expected to meet Bush on May 23.
The Israeli Prime Minister's spokesman was reserved. His brief announcement said Olmert spoke with Abbas, "who telephoned in order to congratulate him... The prime minister thanked the PA chairman for his congratulations."
A senior government official who spoke to United Press International on condition he not be identified said "there was no reason" for an Olmert-Abbas meeting because "there is no new (Palestinian) offer to stop terror."
He noted the Palestinian government has not accepted the demand of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations that it "commit to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the (internationally devised) road map (for peace)."
In the Knesset on Thursday, Olmert stressed, "A Palestinian Government led by terrorist factions will not be a partner for negotiations."
President Abbas belongs to the Fatah party while the government of Ismail Haniyeh is controlled by the radical Islamist movement Hamas, considered by the United States and the European Union to be a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, a senior Israeli government source told UPI: "You can't negotiate with (Abbas) when he says, 'I cannot, or do not want to impose my will.'" The Palestinian Authority "is a terrorist authority," and Israel will not negotiate with "a two headed government."
Abu Mazen is so weak he "can't even secure his own life," the Israeli source continued. According to Maariv, the Palestinian Presidential Guard asked Israel to allow an urgent delivery of guns and ammunition because they have only 80 Kalachnikov assault rifles in Ramallah and 120 in Gaza. Shaul Mofaz, who was Israel's defense minister until Thursday night, reportedly rejected the request. Someone advised Abu Mazen not to go to Gaza now and he has cancelled his trip, Maariv reported.
Meanwhile, the Israelis are enjoying the rare sense of international backing. The Hamas government is bankrupt and its officials can't get visas to Europe, or even Morocco.
The international community's goodwill is essential also for the next stage in Olmert's plan, should attempts to reach a negotiated settlement fail. Olmert wants the United States and Europe to back a unilateral Israeli decision on where its boundaries shall be. These boundaries should include some of the areas Israel occupied during the 1967 war. Loosing international sympathy might be too costly.
Olmert will meet Abbas, but Cabinet Secretary Israel Maimon drew a fine distinction between "a meeting" and "negotiations."
The meeting "has not been set yet," but negotiations will not be held as long as the Palestinian Authority fails to meet the pre-conditions.
"We're not boycotting Abu Mazen," insisted the senior government source. "It is not us who are torpedoing the road map."
At the Hebrew University-PSR workshop analysts were skeptical. "Fatah, alone, cannot deliver" an agreement, Shikaki said.
A former director of Israel's military intelligence, retired Maj. Gen. Shlomo Gazit added: "Knowing the basic positions of Israel and the Palestinians, the chances of implementing the road map to reach a final settlement accepted by both sides are very very slim."
