Palestinians opened fire early Thursday on a group of Israeli soldiers near the West Bank city of Jenin, killing one. Fatah and the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for this attack.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian parliament speaker on Wednesday temporarily blocked a confidence vote sought by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle with Yasser Arafat.
If a vote is held in the coming days, Abbas could be toppled.
Abbas is to address parliament Thursday to sum up his first 100 days in office, the AP reported.
Abbas' report will be debated, but legislators said a confidence vote is not expected for at least another week. In the meantime, parliament will try to help end the crisis between Arafat and Abbas over their authority, particularly control of the security forces.
Abbas has told a senior Palestinian official he wants Thursday's debate to be followed by a confidence vote but has not made a formal request.
Palestinian Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qurei said Wednesday that parliament should not be dragged into the Arafat-Abbas struggle. "Parliament will not accept being turned into a place of conflict or to be part of the current crisis," Qureia said.
The speaker said there is no need, for now, to hold a confidence vote in parliament because Abbas already won the legislators' confidence when his appointment was affirmed in April.
However, parliament will hold another session Sept. 10, and if Arafat and Abbas have not reached a power-sharing agreement by then, a confidence vote might be held, legislators said.
In Washington, the Bush administration Wednesday rejected the view, shared by Arafat, that the road map to Middle East peace is dead.
"I believe the road map is the way forward. It puts down obligations that both sides have made to the world. We got started on it and some progress is being made - slow progress but progress," said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
"We remain fully engaged in our efforts to move toward a two-state vision of Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in peace and security," added White House spokesman Scott McClellan, speaking to reporters in a briefing. "I think that the parties remain committed to that effort," he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
