Ghassan Khatib Quotations

We believe that the Palestinian leadership should be treated by the Israeli government like they treat other Arab governments.

This will not help us reach our target of stopping the violence and to reviving the peace process,

The only way out of it is an initiative to come from the international community led by the United States ... with some political weight behind such initiatives in order to enforce it.

We hear the Israelis announcing in the loudspeakers that nobody is allowed to enter, to leave the compound, or to move between the different buildings on the compound, and anybody who will be seen outside will be shot and dead,

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...

His remarks did not attract the attention of the Palestinians because this is not news,

He is pursuing a unilateral approach, which is not constructive, and he wants peace that is incompatible with our legitimate rights and with international legality,

Palestinians were hoping that the withdrawal would lead to improvements in their movements, but things have been deteriorating.

President Arafat is in control, but President Arafat is not trying and has no interest in stopping the peaceful Palestinian protests against the Israeli occupation. He believes that this is useful because his public is angry and frustrated.

We have to start working to help people earn a living.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This is unfortunate. It shouldn't have happened. We should work hard in order to prevent this from happening,

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.

It seems they are moving toward agreeing on vague formulas,

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.

It wasn't a difficult issue because we had an interest in demolishing, and they did, too.

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.

can understand why Israeli officials are nervous ... because, if this is going to be successful, then the Israelis will be faced from their side with having to fulfill their obligations from the road map.

By avoiding dealing with the PA, you are going to impact humanitarian issues.

The holidays will end within three days and an expectation has emerged for a possible resumption of the contacts.

The change in Israel is important and relevant. My understanding is that this new prime minister is very different from Ariel Sharon and this government is different from Sharon's government, and because of that, I am hoping for a change.