EPHRON: What do you think of Sharon’s plan to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza?
ABBAS: This is a deal reached between Sharon and Bush. We knew nothing about it. It shocked us.
How do you explain Bush’s willingness to give Sharon far-reaching assurances on settlements and refugees?
It’s all a bit suspicious. It pre-judges the outcome.
How drastic a change is it compared to previous U.S. policy?
President Bush told me in the White House [last July] that this [Israeli] wall that snakes through the West Bank should stop. He was very angry whenI showed him the map. He threw the map to Cheney and told him there’s no [possibility of an] independent state anymore.
What else did Bush tell you?
He said we would go to the final-status talks right away in a back channel. He said, “Next time you come to Washington we’ll establish this channel–Palestinians, Israelis and Americans–to talk secretly about final-status issues.”
Was the channel ever established?
No, no. Because a month later, I resigned.
You said the Palestinians need to be prepared to take control of Gaza. What does that involve?
It means we should unify the security apparatuses. Of course, we need dialogue with Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad. I believe that we can reach an understanding.
Why is unifying the security agencies so important?
We have at least 12 security apparatuses that cannot be controlled by anybody.
You said the Authority should try to reach an understanding with Hamas. What kind? What would have happened had Sharon offered to evacuate Gaza while you were prime minister?
It would have helped me a lot. It would have given me power and prestige among our people.
Why did you resign?
For three reasons. Sharon didn’t give me anything. Secondly, I was attacked by my colleagues, and thirdly, Bush was reluctant to help.
What kind of attacks by colleagues?
There was incitement.
What kind of incitement?
Words and more than words–the demonstration against me before the Palestinian Legislative Council. This was the peak. Two days later I resigned. It was the fourth of September, and after that I asked for a closed session. I exposed all the secrets and then I sent my resignation to Chairman Arafat.
Some might say that a national leader must be able to withstand criticism and incitement.
That’s true. But when they try to kill–I felt that someone was going to kill.
To kill you?
Yeah. Or to cause bloodshed within Fatah itself.
How many of these things were instigated by Chairman Arafat?
I wouldn’t want to mention anyone by name. But I’ll give you something to understand: I don’t have any relationship with the chairman from the resignation to this day.
When you’re in Ramallah, you don’t meet with him?
I live in Ramallah and he’s 100 meters away. I don’t go to him, I don’t meet with him, I don’t have any relations with him.
In what circumstances would you be willing to return to this position?
No circumstances whatsoever. I will not go back.
