Israeli President Moshe Katzav may address a session of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah soon. Palestinian leader Arafat has approved the invitation, and the Israeli President is now waiting for a green light from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in order to proceed. In the historic address, Katzav is expected to call for a one-year truce.
According to a report on Israel Radio on Monday, the initiative to have President Katzav address the Palestinian body was proposed by Arab-Israeli politician Abdul Malik Dehamshe. Dehamshe first approached Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat about the idea, and received approval for it. He than contacted the Israeli President, who also expressed an interest in appearing before the PLC, but conditioned it upon approval by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Sharon’s office has not announced its position on the initiative yet.
President Katzav, who belongs to Sharon’s right-wing Likud party, has openly criticized the Prime Minster’s recent decision to prevent Arafat from traveling to Bethlehem and tried to convince Sharon to back down, but to no avail. The Iranian-born President Katzav seems to endorse a more pragmatic and conciliatory tone in the Israeli leadership.
If President Katzav does indeed appear before the Palestinian Legislative Council, it would mark a major shift in Israel’s recent policy of discrediting the Palestinian governing institutions. Such an address would also signal acceptance and a measure of respect from the Israeli side, which may play an important role in reconciling the two sides and renewing the peace process between them after prolonged conflict. (www.albawaba.com)
