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Source: http://www.aawsat.com/home/article/146716
Kerry Disappoints PA with Cease-Fire Proposal
(Asharq Al-Awsat-Arabic, 17July2014) The PA expressed deep disappointment over Secretary Kerry's Paris cease-fire proposal, which was drafted with no consultation with Egypt or the PA. This proposal came out after Kerry had already agreed on a plan with Chairman Abbas, wherein a five-day-long cease-fire was to be declared, during which the two sides were to negotiate the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, with American guarantees. Two days later, however, after his discussions in Qatar and Turkey, Secretary Kerry announced a different plan that annulled the Egyptian initiative. Palestinian officials stated that they were very close to reaching a comprehensive deal, but Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal attempted to thwart it, and then Secretary Kerry came out with his announcement. The PLO's anger was well noticed in a short message released by its Ministry of Information, stating: The Palestinian people, whose blood is spilled in Gaza, were not represented by any means in the Paris discussions. Those who want Qatar or Turkey to represent them should go live there. The only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people is the PLO itself.