RAMALLAH, West Bank, Feb. 15, 2007
U.S. May Shun A Fatah-Hamas Coalition
Position Could Hurt Abbas' Efforts To End Palestinian Violence And International Sanctions
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, shakes hands with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, right, with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal at the center, during their meeting in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 8, 2007. (AP)
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The walkway construction site leading to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Feb. 15, 2007. (AP)
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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after a news conference in Ankara on Feb. 15, 2007. (AP)
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Palestinians pray across the street after they were prevented from visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in east Jerusalem's Old City on Feb. 15, 2007. (AP)
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Interactive Mideast Conflict Events, key players and a history of the world's most unstable region.
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Photo Essay Historic Vote Palestinians vote in their first parliamentary election in a decade.
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Photo Essay Factional Fighting Flares Clashes between Hamas, Fatah parties escalate hours after a new cease fire
That position would be a severe blow to Abbas, who is trying to reach a power-sharing deal to end Palestinian infighting and to get crippling international sanctions on the government lifted.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas announced the resignation of his Cabinet on Thursday, and Abbas then authorized Haniyeh to form a new coalition government.
Haniyeh now has five weeks to form the government along the lines of an agreement hammered out last week at a summit in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
But analysts say without U.S. recognition, it will be hard for the new government to survive, reports CBS News correspondent Robert Berger.
In other developments:
(AP)
Until now, Washington had withheld judgment on the Fatah-Hamas power-sharing deal.
Abbas received word of the new U.S. position in a phone call from a senior U.S. State Department official late Wednesday, the aides said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue. A U.S. diplomat then delivered the same message to Abbas in person Thursday, the aides said.
The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem had no immediate comment.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat would only say that U.S. officials have made it clear to the Palestinians that any government must adhere to the principles laid out by the Quartet of Mideast mediators — recognize Israel, renounce violence and back previous peace deals with Israel.
Erekat met with senior U.S. officials in Washington last week to prepare for a three-way Mideast summit in Jerusalem on Monday. He also was involved in the meeting Thursday between Abbas and the U.S. official.
"The Americans reiterated their position that their relations with the government will depend on the government's compliance with the Quartet's principles," he said.
Olmert told Turkish television that Israel was not happy with the coalition agreement.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- rhs648,
Re: "Perhaps safety, security, and prosperity for the Palestinians will be possible after their current leaders are out of the picture."
I think that this result is a far more likely, when the Israelis expell the extremists and war criminals from their own disgraced government, and they rejoin the human race and world community. - Reply to this comment
- Perhaps a brighter and more enlightened generation of Palestinians will realize that peace and prosperity is better than guns and war. Perhaps safety, security, and prosperity for the Palestinians will be possible after their current leaders are out of the picture.
- Reply to this comment
- rhs648,
Re: "It is silly to glorify a society that can only go to war with Israel and each other instead of enjoing peace and prosperity."
The cruel and criminal Israeli occupation and settlement of Palestine has destroyed many opportunities for the Palestinians, and many of them have been understandably pushed to the point of desperation as a result.
The Israelis have a long record of bombing civilians themselves. They dropped some 4,000,000
cluster-bombs in Lebanon during their recent rampage, for example, illegally and despicably,.
I don't consider bombing civilians from an airplane to be more honorable than in person.
I meant to write that Israel was a rogue-terror-State, though, not a 'rouge' terror-State. - Reply to this comment
- "Israel is a runaway rouge state that shows no respect for the rule of law or for common decency."
What propaganda! Look at a map of the middle east. Israel is a mere sliver of land. Let us not ignore the suicide bombings, missile attacks, and kidnappings by the peace loving Palestinians against Israel. If this isn't enough, look at how the Palestinians kill each other. It is silly to glorify a society that can only go to war with Israel and each other instead of enjoing peace and prosperity. - Reply to this comment
- rhs648,
Re: "Palestine, too, could have put its resources and energies into building a prosperous nation. Instead, they keep bringing destruction upon themselves."
That is a pretty absurd comment. Israel is a runaway rouge state that shows no respect for the rule of law or for common decency.
The Israelis continue to illegally occupy and settle land for which they have no legitimate claim. The Israelis frequently engage in the summary execute of people, usually civilians.
They imprison people with no due process, including children, they regularly threaten and attack their neighbors, and they have nukes.
The least that the U.S. can do is to stop the billions and billions of U.S. tax-dollar welfare payments that we send to the terror-State of Israel, year after year. Most Americans seem to agree on this point.
Your comment was akin to blaming a rape victim for being too promiscuous. - Reply to this comment
- One has to feel sympathetic towards the Palestinians. While Israel has built a prosperous nation, the Palestinians have spent decades at war with Israel and between each other. Palestine, too, could have put its resources and energies into building a prosperous nation. Instead, they keep bringing destruction upon themselves. Perhaps a future generation of Palestinians will see the value of peace and prosperity.
- Reply to this comment
- This group continues to be the world's number one threat to ALL humankind:
http://www.gop.com/ - Reply to this comment
- Headlines should read: NEOCONS in the WHITE HOUSE (ISRAEL'S PUPPETS) SHUN FATAH-HAMAS COALITION.
- Reply to this comment
- is islam a violation of international law???
islam practices slavery on non muslims
islam practices apartheid on non muslims
islam practices rape on non muslims
islam practices rape on babies and animals
islam practices genocide on non muslims
all are violations of international law and are crimes against humanity
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=slavery+islam&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=slavery muslim&btnG=Google Search
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4795808.stm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apartheid islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=apartheid muslim
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape islam
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape muslim&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape islam babies&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rape muslim babies&btnG=Search
Imam Khomeini - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
http://www.homa.org/Details.asp?ContentID=2137352826&TOCID=2083225445
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=genocide islam&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=genocide muslim - Reply to this comment
- here's your enemy skippy..... try to remember that..... there will be a test later....
UK TV AIRS SHOCK 'UNDERCOVER' LOOK INTO MAINSTREAM BRIT MOSQUES...
Dispatches: Undercover Mosque
This is part one of the much-anticipated UK Channel 4 documentary Dispatches: Undercover Mosque, exposing evidence of Islamic supremacism, shocking misogyny, and support for violence at a number of Britain%u2019s leading mosques and Muslim institutions. (Thanks again to LGF operative kasper.)
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24018_Dispatches-_Undercover_Mosque&only
Dispatches - Undercover Mosque (1 to 6)
UK Channel 4, aired 15th January 2007.
Radicalisation of UK mosques by Saudi Wahabbism
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Dispatches+- Undercover Mosque
http://youtube.com/watch?v=peFQWuk4nuo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MuCLC8kjWCI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x5t5EqWX92k
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yMztM0Z7BYE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=V4Zv3BUmwqs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KvjvNScmTQA - Reply to this comment
- 'Obsession'
Documentary gives insight into radical Islam%u2019s global threat
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/launchPage.html?110506/110506_fnl_obsession&%27Obsession%27&FNL&Documentary%20gives%20insight%20into%20radical%20Islam%92s%20global%20threat&Foxlife&-1&%27Obsession%27&Video%20Launch%20Page&News
http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/12min.htm
http://myspace.com/waragainstthewest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BL4-mxE87w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUpcpEQtgp4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BUqXSeCDJc - Reply to this comment
- this is the real threat to humanity.....
http://stopislam.cjb.net/
Terrorism Awareness Project to wake up Americans and the World
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/islamic-mein-kampf - Reply to this comment
- USA's PLEDGE 2 THE WORLD GIVEN BY JFK!!
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
--John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961 "
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." --John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961 "
One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Winston Churchill
Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing. - Reply to this comment
- Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech
December 8, 1941/September 12, 2001
The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God. - Reply to this comment
- ISLAM EMPTIES BETHLEHEM OF CHRISTIANS
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printab
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36406
'Greedy monsters' ruled church
SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
BETHLEHEM, West Bank %u2014 The Palestinian gunmen holed up in the Church of the Nativity and later deported by Israel seized church stockpiles of food and "ate like greedy monsters" until the food ran out, while more than 150 civilians went hungry.
They also guzzled beer, wine and Johnnie Walker scotch that they found in priests' quarters, undeterred by the Islamic ban on drinking alcohol.
Angry Orthodox priests yesterday showed two reporters about 20 empty bottles of whiskey, champagne, vodka, cognac and French wine on a kitchen shelf and on the floor of two rooms.
"They should be ashamed of themselves. They acted like animals, like greedy monsters. Come, I will show you more," said one priest, who declined to give his name.
"Palestinians took candelabra, icons and anything that looked like gold," said a Franciscan, the Rev. Nicholas Marquez from Mexico.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20020515-89391238.htm - Reply to this comment
- "But history shows Israel does not want to harm the Islamic holy sites, said Gershom Gorenberg, an Israeli historian and journalist."
Yes that may be true; Israel would rather exterminate the Arabs and keep everything. The problem lies in the fact that Bush & Israel are handing me the bill. I DO NOT INTEND TO PAY! - Reply to this comment
- Excuse me, ZIONIST elementary school!!
- Reply to this comment
- hamiltongrad
After reading some of your posts I have to assume hamilton is an elementary school!! You, son have a lot to learn! - Reply to this comment
- Hey, Sarge,
Zionist has many different interpretations, but I use the formal version. When I use Zionist I am referring to any person who believes, for whatever reason, that "Jews" (anyone claiming to be a Jew) is born with the right to claim ownership and/or possession of land in the Middle East, in or around Jerusalem.
The vast majority of Zionists are "right wing Christian fundamentalists" including Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, and nearly any other Christian "evangelist" whose name is commonly known.
The majority of people in the Bush administration & congress are Zionists.
One of the most vocal and active Christian Zionists is John Hagee. He uses his entire tax free air time to explain why US taxpayers should shovel money to Israel, and, why US soldiers should die for Israelis.
He is a greater menace than OBL in that he promotes Israel's political message and little else.
Hagee routinely organizes lobbying groups, using his tax free facilities, to lobby congress on Israel's behalf.
Hagee and all other Zionists like him should renounce their US citizenship and move to Israel.
Zionists are a far greater menace than al qaida because they pretend to be loyal, patriotic Americans while doing everything they can to destroy the US. On Israel's behalf, of course. - Reply to this comment
- Zionists are a far greater menace to US citizens and taxpayers thana any other political or social group.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 02:41 PM : Feb 15, 2007
I don't know about that, tucker. Christian zealots are right up there, too...... - Reply to this comment
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
