A prominent figure in the Gaza Strip, D. Hatem Abu-Ghazale, has called for the transfer of as many powers as possible to the Arabs in the administered territories.
Speaking at a lecture at the Truman Institute in Jerusalem, Abu-Ghazale disagreed with the Palestinian view which boycotts any cooperation with the Israeli authorities. Rather, he said, “we should do everything possible to call the Israeli bluff,” when the Israelis talk about efforts to improve the so-called quality of life in the territories.
Recent reports had that Rashad A-Shawa, the deposed Mayor of Gaza, recently proposed to President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to control the implementation of autonomy in Gaza. Although A-Shawa denied the report, which if true, conflicted with the Palestine Liberation Organization position which rejects the Camp David accord’s call for autonomy, Abu-Ghazale welcomed the idea.
“That Egypt would be the authority overseeing autonomy, I would consider liberation,” Abu Ghazale said. “It would be the end of the Israeli occupation. It would bring us back to the Egyptian rule, but through an autonomous Gaza Administration — a situation that any responsible Palestinian should welcome.”
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