A Palestinian Delegation to Hold Talks in Washington
RAMALLAH, Palestine, October 20, 2003 (IPC + Agencies)-- A Palestinian delegation composed of several political figures
flew to Washington to meet with US congressmen to discuss a number of key issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Political sources said that the Democrat members of the United States Congress have invited several Palestinian
politicians, including Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members and senior Fateh movement members, to come to
Washington and discuss several issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The main issue that would be discussed with the US congressmen is the separation barrier Israel is building deep inside
Palestinian territories in the West Bank, as well as a chance of resuming the talks between Palestinian and Israeli
officials again," Hatem Abdel Qader, PLC member and part of the delegation, told Al Jazeera TV.
The delegation is also supposed to visit several other US officials, including David Satterfield, Near Eastern Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and Dennis Ross, the former US Middle East Envoy.
Earlier, Dr. Nasser Al Qedwa, Palestine's permanent representative at the UN, asserted that Washington's vetoing of the
Security Council's resolution to stop constructing the Israeli separation barrier is considered a clear mark of the US
bias in favor of Israel.
"This biased stance doesn't give away any chance of hoping to go back to the political settlement between both sides,
including that of the "Road Map", which was presented by the Quartet committee and adopted by the US administration,
while Israel hasn't implemented any of its articles," Al Qedwa said