Ghassan Khatib
Ghassan Khatib
Ghassan Khatibis a Palestinian politician. He was born in Nablus, in the West Bank, and is a member of the Palestinian People's Party. Khatib is married with three children. He was also a member of the Madrid Peace Delegation in 1991 and was involved in the Washington negotiations from 1991 to 1993. He was appointed the Palestinian National Authority Minister of Labor in 2002, then the Planning Minister in 2005-06. He is currently Director of the Government Media Centre...
both calm camp david fact ground israelis problem spite squeeze trying utmost
The problem is that the Israelis were trying to squeeze Yasser Arafat, both at Camp David and here on the ground in spite of the fact that he is trying his utmost to calm the situation.
fact felt gives impression light
In light of their approach, we felt it just didn't make sense to participate in something that gives the impression of coordination and things going very well when in fact they have not been.
difficult interest issue
It wasn't a difficult issue because we had an interest in demolishing, and they did, too.
current economic exactly gaza happened hoping recovery
We all were hoping after the withdrawal the economic recovery will be enhanced. What has happened is exactly the contrary, ... In the current situation, Gaza is really like a big prison.
expansion expect government israeli surprise
This is not news, ... This Israeli government is about consolidating the occupation. This Israeli government is about the expansion of settlements. So it doesn't come as a surprise at all. This is what we expect them to say.
accept arafat cannot claims final include issues jerusalem solution
Arafat will not accept and cannot accept a final solution and an end of Palestinian claims if it doesn't include a solution to the issues of Jerusalem and refugees.
anger clear decline level noticed opinion peace polls public support
Many of us noticed this accumulation of anger and frustration. In our public opinion polls it was very clear that there is a decline in the level of support to the peace process...
agreeing agreement moving reach seems toward vague
It seems they are moving toward agreeing on vague formulas. I do not see that there is any possibility to reach a comprehensive agreement and comprehensive peace.
agreeing moving seems toward vague
It seems they are moving toward agreeing on vague formulas,
belonged bringing cause conflict illegal injustice land major natural ongoing owners peace presence prospects settlers step
It's a step in the right direction. The illegal presence of those settlers in a land that belonged to Palestinians was a major cause of the ongoing conflict and confrontations. So correcting this injustice by removing those settlers and bringing back the land to its natural and legal owners is going to contribute, hopefully, to the prospects of peace between the two sides.
armed cake full share solved takes wants
This place is full of weapons, full of militias, factions, armed groups, everyone now wants a share of the cake ... and this is something that takes time. This is not something that can be solved quickly.
clear growing nobody suggesting
There was a very clear growing frustration, and all of us were suggesting that this will come up to the surface, nobody will know when and how.
hard order prevent work
This is unfortunate. It shouldn't have happened. We should work hard in order to prevent this from happening,
arab believe government israeli leadership treat treated
We believe that the Palestinian leadership should be treated by the Israeli government like they treat other Arab governments.