January 14, 2003

Palestinians deliver reform agenda

Palestinian delegates have condemned suicide bombings in Israel as they promised key reforms by video link to a London summit.

They also criticised Israeli restrictions on the Palestinian territories during the talks.

The Palestinians joined the talks via the video link after being barred from going to London in the wake of the recent suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the talks "constructive" and said the Palestinian delegates had promised a new draft of a Palestinian constitution within the next two weeks.
[I'll believe they'll deliver when I see it with my own eyes!--ed.]

Speaking as the conference broke up, Mr Straw said Israeli restrictions caused problems for the Palestinian administration, but this could not be used as an excuse for failure to reform.
[...]Mr Straw praised Palestinian progress on financial reforms but an independent judiciary was needed.

Well, one wonders what good came out of this wank-off...
The British don't have much say in this, really, and the "Palestinians" are operating at Israel's grace and favor, but it obviously makes both groups of folks feel better to go through the motions of pretending that they're now deciding their own fate, doesn't it?
Bravo, Sharon! And again kudos to President Bush for that June 24th speech on the Middle East--these Paleostinians clearly can't organize a 1-car funeral that doesn't include terrorism (Literally!).