Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned in comments published yesterday that if Israel does not negotiate on its plan to withdraw from parts of the West Bank by 2010, the move will lead to another war in a decade.
In an interview with the Guardian, Abbas said that Israeli prime minister-designate Ehud Olmert's plan to set down Israel's final borders along the route of the separation barrier would lead to more bloodshed.
struggle
Such Israeli action might delay "the struggle," but not end the conflict, Abbas said.
"Okay, they can postpone it for 10 years," Abbas told the daily. "After 10 years our sons will feel it is unfair and they will return back to struggle."
"In the West Bank they will demarcate the borders and say: `This is your state,'" Abbas said. "And they want our state within the wall without negotiations ... Nobody will accept it. The struggle will continue."
Olmert won last month's elections on a platform to attempt to negotiate with the Palestinians on his plan to withdraw from most of the West Bank, which the Palestinians want to include in a future state.
Even if an agreement with the Palestinians is not reached, Israel will set down its borders, according to the plan.
tough time
Olmert is expected to have a tough time starting peace talks with the Palestinians since the radical Islamic party Hamas rose to power.
Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks, refuses to answer Israel's demands that it recognize the Jewish state, renounce violence and accept peace agreements.
A senior Hamas official said on Friday that the group is ready to accept a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel, which would imply recognition of Israel, without requiring Hamas to state this formally.
However, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said he was not aware of a two-state proposal.
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