MIDDLE EAST: The Palestinian prime minister tells Deaglán de Bréadún he needs more than words from Israel
There is a buzz about the Israeli-Palestinian issue these days that is hard to define or pin down, but there is definitely something in the air. I must have interviewed dozens of dignitaries arriving in Dublin from the Middle East but, instead of the normal sedate encounter, the meeting with Ahmed Qurie/Abu Ala was noisy and busy with phones ringing and the likes of chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, and Palestinian envoy Ali Halimeh coming in and out of the room as we spoke.
Since Ireland took over the European presidency in January, Big Names have been flocking to our shores to have a word with the Taoiseach or the Minister for Foreign Affairs. If you are really important, you get both. Ahmed Qurie is really important, at least for now. Job security is not the most obvious perk of being Palestinian prime minister, but the late Harold Wilson said a position that looks unpromising can be transformed into a real job by a politician with the requisite skill and determination.
When I met the former Israeli prime minister, Shimon Peres, in Tel Aviv last month, he could not praise Qurie/Ala highly enough: "As a human being, as a politician, Abu Ala is one of the best among the Palestinians. He is wise, he is experienced, he is sophisticated, he is a patriot."
It's a bit like a British politician praising an Irish Taoiseach, but one cannot help being struck at the same time by the similarity in temperament and demeanour between Peres and Qurie. In person, this amiable, mild-mannered gentleman in his 60s is the antithesis of the media caricature of Palestinians as wild-eyed fanatics.
However it is not Peres he has to deal with but Ariel Sharon. Given "The Bulldozer's" hardline reputation it is surprising to hear Sharon making apparently conciliatory noises about closing down settlements in the Gaza Strip.
"Look," says Ahmed Qurie, "if the Israelis want an end to the conflict, if they want a permanent agreement, they cannot reach it unilaterally. There are two sides and therefore they need an agreement with the Palestinians and the Arabs to have peace. But if they do anything unilaterally, nobody will recognise it as the settlement of the conflict."
But didn't a closure of the settlements in Gaza appeal to him? "Well, nobody will cry after them if they withdraw or evacuate the settlements. We will be happy, but we want deeds, we don't want words."
How would he assess the position of Sharon who came in with a very tough reputation but now seems to be on the verge of making a moderate gesture? "I don't know that it's a moderate gesture or not. This will be proved when we are able to reach an agreement. The day that we go ahead according to the terms of reference of this conflict, the formula of Madrid, Oslo, the international community resolutions, and put an end to the conflict in all its aspects, yes I think I can say that he is a leader, he is a hero, he is a moderate. Before that, he is an elected prime minister of the Israeli people and we will deal with him on this basis."
What were the prospects for a meeting of the two prime ministers? "I am not against a meeting." The critical issue was the quality of the preparation for such an encounter: "If we go for a meeting without good preparation and we come out of it with each side criticising the other, I think it will be a catastrophe."
He doesn't pronounce the final "e" in "catastrophe", but it is very clear what he means. Officials from both sides have now had three meetings about the agenda and are scheduled to meet again on Sunday.
So he wants guarantees? Abu Ala smiles: "Nobody can give guarantees... this is politics. They want to see our intention, we want to see their intention and this will be reflected in the agenda."
The smile turns to a laugh when I mention Israeli reports that he was about to resign as prime minister: "Forget it. It's not on my agenda. I have a responsibility, it's a difficult responsibility, I accepted this responsibility. I will continue, I will not give up."