A high-level Israeli military officer told the Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala), who has accepted the nomination for new Palestinian Prime Minister, has no plans to implement reforms in the Palestinian Authority, according to Israel's Army Radio Tuesday.
Earlier, Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said "nothing would change while Yasser Arafat pulled the strings" after the Palestinian president asked Qurei to become his new prime minister, Israel's military radio reported Monday.
"The nomination of Abu Ala, will not allow the peace process to make the least bit of progress while Arafat continues to pull the strings," Shalom was reported to have told US Secretary of State Powell during a telephone conversation.
"Arafat is the most negative element in the region. He is responsible for the fall of Abu Mazen's government," he was also reported to have said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
