Palestinian officials said Sunday they would not rush to sign a "flawed" peace agreement to save Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's political skin no matter how much international pressure they come under within the next 60 days before Israeli elections.
In a daring gamble to win a new mandate, Barak announced he would submit his resignation Sunday and run in elections, which he predicted would be a "referendum for peace."
The move ostensibly rules out his most dangerous opponent, right-wing former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from running against him as only current members of the Knesset, or parliament, can run for the premiership.
Palestinians called the decision a political maneuver.
"He saw the inevitable and gave it a nudge. He did this to circumvent and pre-empt Netanyahu from running," said Hanan Ashrawi, a leading member of the Palestinian legislative council and former spokesman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
But she told AFP that Palestinians would not buckle under Barak's political agenda or that of US President Bill Clinton who is likely to pursue last ditch peacemaking efforts before he leaves office at the end of January.
"I don't think you are going to see Palestinians rush to rescue Barak or give him a lifeline. He has destroyed all vestige of trust by his policy of occupation, brutality and military attacks," she said from her home in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Barak has been castigated by Palestinians and Israel's political establishment for his handling of eleven weeks of unbridled violence in the occupied territories and Israel.
The conflict has undercut seven years of peace negotiations and sent nearly 320 people, mostly Palestinians to their graves.
"There will be massive political pressure, especially given the Clinton timetable, for Palestinians to sign a flawed agreement for the sake of saving the prime minister but Barak has proven that he can be just as bad as the alternative," she said.
Ziad Abu Amr, chairman of the political committee of the legislative council, echoed the sentiment.
"We are not going to foot the bill no matter how much pressure we come under," he told AFP.
"Unless Barak presents the Palestinians with a peace agreement that is consistent with UN resolutions, the peace process will not be able to move forward," he said in Gaza City.
But Abu Amr said he not expect Barak "to undertake any daring decisions," to salvage peace.
"He had a full mandate but he did not exercise leadership and he did not make the decisions he was expected to. Barak is not very much different than Netanyahu when it comes to crucial issues such as permanent status, Jerusalem, border, settlements and refugees," he said.
Calling the resignation Barak's "last chance," the Palestinian official said the move was further evidence that Palestinian issues weigh heavily on Israeli political life.
"Objectively Palestinians have become a determining factor in Israeli politics. The crisis of his predecessor Mr. Netanyahu was also linked to the Palestinian issue," he said.
Netanyahu, also berated for pushing the peace process to the brink, was trounced by Barak in May 1999 polls.
"This may be Barak's best chance to be re-elected," said Abu Amr, who nonetheless said the consequences of the political move could lead to more bloodshed in the territories.
"This may delay any serious move on the resumption’s of negotiations towards reaching an agreement with Israel which leaves the door open to an escalation of violence," he warned.
Earlier, the secretary-general of the Palestinian presidency office, Tayeb Abdelrahim said Saturday: "The resignation will affect the peace process, " but declined to elaborate.
"I will not comment anymore on this subject, which will be under the study of the Palestinian leadership," he said.
The official nevertheless added that the resignation was "an internal Israeli matter in which we do not want to interfere."
Earlier, at a press conference broadcast on television, Barak announced his resignation and said he would run again in elections for prime minister only, to be held within 60 days.
"Faced with the state of urgency and the need to work to reduce the violence and restart the peace process, I have decided to resign and ask again for the people's confidence," Barak said.
The speaker of the Palestinian legislature said Barak's announcement amounted to a political game.
"This is a game to keep Benjamin Netanyahu away, and for the election race to be against Ariel Sharon," Ahmed Qorei told journalists in Ramallah.
"It's easier for Barak that way," Qorei said – (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
