Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) said Monday that he wanted to see whether peace with Israel was possible before accepting the post as Palestinian prime minister. He also said he first wanted American and European guarantees of support for peacemaking before accepting the post.
"I am not prime minister as yet ... I want to see the Americans - what kind of guarantee...they will [give]," he told Reuters. "I want to see Europe, what kind of guarantees and support ... they will [give]. I'm not ready for failure. I want to see whether peace is possible or not."
Additionally, he added Israel must change its approach to Yasser Arafat.
Earlier, aides close to the Palestinian official said that he has agreed in principle to his appointment as prime minister. However, PA Minister for Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan said Sunday that he would not serve in any new cabinet unless it was headed by Abbas.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian fighter on Monday morning, at the Erez Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israelis said the man was apparently intended to carry out an attack on an Israeli target.
Overnight Sunday, Israeli troops arrested three Palestinian activists in the West Bank. Two men were arrested in the village of Jaba, north of the West Bank city of Nablus while a third man, a Tanzim member, was arrested in Qalqilyah.
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
