Ramallah – Beside the presidnet of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said today (17), in a press conference in Ramallah, West Bank, that the disagreement between the governments of the United Statse and Isreal about the Israeli decision of building 1,600 new homes in Eastern Jerusalem, which the Palestinians consider occupied territory, may even help in the peace negotiations in the region.
“What seemed impossible ended up happening, the United States had a disagreement with Israel,” said Lula. “It may be the magic thing that was missing for an agreement to be reached, a disagreement between the two allies may be a chance for the success that needs to be built,” he added.
The announcement of construction of housing units took place when North American vice president Joe Biden was visiting Israel. The fact irritated the government of the US and generated criticism from the Barack Obama adminstration, as the freeze of new settlements was considered a necessary theme to the return of peace talks.
A few days earlier, the Arab League and the PNA had agreed to return to talks in an indirect manner, through an intermediary, the US special envoy for the Middle East, George Mitchel, who ended up cancelling the visit he had scheduled to the region this week.
Abbas said that the PNA still agrees with the indirect negotiations without any pre-conditions, but insists that the rules that had been established previously be complied with, in this case the halt in new settlements. “Israel must comply with what it has agreed to do, we only ask for them to follow what was agreed,” he said.
“The expansion of settlements must stop, or else it may put out the flame of hope,” agreed Lula, who visited Israel last week. “Brazil is betting on the capacity of the Middle East to reach a future in harmony,” he said.
Abbas stated that Brazil is very important worldwide and may “use this power” in search of peace. He recalled, however, urgent themes for the Palestinians, like the end to the siege on Gaza Strip by the Israeli army. Lula agreed that the blocade to Gaza must end and that the “wall separating them must come down”, referring to the concrete wall that separates the West Bank and Israel.
The president of Brazil added that he also took to Israel a message of the “urgency of peace” and that most of the Israelis want the return to talks. “Brazil is convinced that it may contribute to speeding up the process,” he said.
Union
Lula said he would like to see the establishment of a Palestinian State that is “safe and viable, especially regarding its territory”. He pointed out, however, that consensus is necessary between the Palestinians regarding the solution of two states – Israel and Palestine -, the pillar of negotiations.
The PNA is favourable to talks and to two states, but Hamas, which controls Gaza Strip, is against them. “The Palestinian people hope to be represented by just one voice in the negotiations,” said Lula, adding that this voice must be moderate.
The president said that Brazil is ready to host the meetings of groups that support peace and that the country is prepared “to talk to those of importance in the negotiation process and that may have an influence in the construction” of peace. “There is no political force, right or left, that our country refuses to talk to,” he said, suggesting that the country may talk to Hamas if that is the desire of those involved. “We are available for all the talks deemed necessary,” he added.
In the same line, Abbas said that “unity between the Palestinians is very importrant” and that the PNA continues open to the signing of the agreement with Hamas proposed by the government of Egypt. To him, Brazil may help convince the parties involved.
Despite the delicate moment, Lula said he is an optimist. “I do not believe that there is in the world a human being more optimistic than I am,” he said. “That is why I believe in peace between Palestine and Israel. All those I talk to want peace,” he pointed out. “There are things that need to be fixed and it is in the hands of the political leaders [of the region] to come to an agreement. Brazil is going to do all it can to reach peace,” he finished off.
Jordan
After the meeting with Abbas, Lula headed to Jordan, the last phase of his trip to the Middle East. He and first lady Marisa Letícia met king Abdullah II and queen Rania at Al-Humman Palace, in King Hussein Park, in Amman.
Tomorrow the president should have a series of meetings with Jordanian authorities and should close the busienss seminar organized by the governments of Jordan and Brazil with the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
*Translated by Mark Ament
