Palestinian negotiator Erakat quits due to leaks

[oberliner]

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories — Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat tendered his resignation on Saturday amid deadlock in efforts to renew peace talks with Israel, a Palestinian official said.

Erakat told AFP he was stepping down because of his responsibility for the disclosure of confidential documents on Al-Jazeera, shortly after his resignation was announced by senior PLO Yasser Abed Rabbo.

The chief negotiator said he was assuming "responsibility for the theft of documents from his office" that he said had been "deliberately" tampered with.

Last month, Erakat accused Al-Jazeera of taking part in a campaign to overthrow the Palestinian Authority (PA) after the Doha-based television began to release more than 1,600 confidential files known as "The Palestine Papers."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hIurtVr04UTKB89CsKairVpGM4lg?docId=CNG.34b0a7cfb441605b61894f84b5a9eda2.991

[bemildred]

1. Interesting. nt

[azurnoir]

2. parts left out of the op

He pointed to a possible US-Israeli effort to topple the PA because of its refusal to take part in US-brokered direct peace talks unless the Jewish state halts West Bank settlement construction.

The files allege that Palestinian negotiators offered unprecedented concessions during peace negotiations, including on the ultra-sensitive subjects of Jerusalem and refugees, with nothing in return from Israel.

They also show PA members closely cooperating with Israel in its fight against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, Fatah's bitter rival which rules the Gaza Strip.

Hamas on Saturday welcomed Erakat's offer to resign.

The step "shows that the leaked documents were authentic," spokesman Fawzi Barhum told AFP, urging the Palestine Liberation Organisation to halt all negotiations with Israel.


IMO Erakat is a 'sacrificial goat' of sorts, however the part about the possible US/Israel involvement is interesting, what possible reason could the US/Israel have for wanting to throw the PLO/PA in turmoil at this point in time?

[bemildred]

4. Could be butt-covering.

There is a somewhat whiney tone to his statements. I would not take anything he said at face value.

[azurnoir]

6. I don't as I said IMO Eraket was a sacrifice which is a sort of 'butt cover'

for the PA/PLO, however I also have noted that both the governments of the US and Israel have not said all too much about this

[bemildred]

11. Yeah, I know you don't. nt

[oberliner]

5. Those paragraphs are all at the link provided

Generally the first four paragraphs are all that are supposed to be included in posts to avoid a rule violation.

[azurnoir]

7. actually the rule is 5 paragraphs and they do not have to be the first

this can come into play <snip> and does quite often, but thanks for posting the AFP article it did include a bit that Maan did not

[oberliner]

8. actually you are wrong

Maybe re-read the site rules?

5. Copyrights: Do not copy-and-paste entire articles onto this discussion forum. When referencing copyrighted work, post a short excerpt (not exceeding 4 paragraphs) with a link back to the original

[azurnoir]

9. The rule says 4 but your intent is quite clear it used to say 4 or5

nor do they have to be the first 4 as you stated, actually I post 5 all of the time and have never been called on it will that now be changing?

[oberliner]

10. I'm sure it's not a big deal

Was just explaining why I only included four.

[jimmie]

3. Interesting

The "Clown Prince of Propaganda" quits.

He really has a future selling used cars.