Military

DATE=01/14/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CQ PALESTINIANS / CONFERENCE (L)

NUMBER=2-298363

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

///// ADDS BLAIR TITLE TO TEXT GRAF 1 OF CR2-298360. /////

INTRO: Palestinians are not optimistic that a London conference on reforming the Palestinian Authority will accomplish anything worthwhile. They say meaningful reform is not a possibility as long as Israel continues its policies of settlements, curfews and military occupation of Palestinian areas. Sonja Pace reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been adamant about holding this meeting on Palestinian reforms and conference host, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, said it is vital to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian issue, regardless of what happens in the Iraq crisis.

But as the meeting opens in London the main participants, the Palestinians, are not there in person. Instead, Palestinian ministers are participating via video link from Ramallah and Gaza City because Israel has refused to grant them permission to travel to London.

Israel announced the ban following a twin suicide bomb attack in Tel Aviv over a week ago in which a total 25-people died and over 100 were injured. Israel blames the Palestinian leadership for these continuing attacks and officials say the Palestinians should stop terrorist attacks instead of going to London to talk about reforms.

The Unites States has been at the forefront in demanding the Palestinians institute major political, financial and security reforms to pave the way for a peace settlement and the creation of a Palestinian state.

In a statement prepared for the London meeting, the Palestinians outline reforms plans that they say are underway and include a new draft constitution, consolidation of financial institutions to provide greater transparency, reorganization and consolidation of the Authority's security services and new national elections.

But Palestinian leaders argue it is Israel that stands in the way of the implementation of meaningful reforms. They cite as one example Palestinian elections, which had been set for January. The balloting has been postponed indefinitely because Palestinians say it's impossible to conduct a campaign or elections under the Israeli military occupation, imposition of curfews and travel bans in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian leaders say they are committed to a peaceful two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and they say they are trying to stop the violence by supporting recent talks in Cairo among various Palestinian factions to help bring about a possible cease fire.

NEB/SP/KL/rae