Palestinian Government Asks For A Chance

But Impasse Overshadows Mideast Summit, Rice

(AP)  "I think that we can continue to work with Abu Mazen, continue to discuss with Abu Mazen, continue to explore with Abu Mazen," Rice said.

Rice was the latest U.S. official to lower expectations for Monday's meeting even as she described a deep commitment to the larger goal of peace.

"Nobody is at the point of talking about a deal," Rice said. "We're talking about ... what the destination might look like."

Many of the core questions that frame the hoped-for destination — an independent Palestine alongside Israel — apparently would not be on the table Monday. Those include the borders and the fate of disputed areas of Jerusalem.

Israeli leaders were lukewarm about the session even before Abbas' deal; some have been openly skeptical since.

The United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia have said jointly that a Palestinian government must renounce violence, abide by past agreements with Israel and others and accept Israel's right to exist.

The four-member group, known as the Quartet, is the steward of a mothballed 2003 peace plan. The group has taken no position yet on whether Abbas' pact with Hamas meets that test, but Rice said Palestinian statehood rests on it.

"I don't think that there's any doubt that ... an agreement to have a Palestinian state and then the actual standing of a Palestinian state is going to have to be on the basis of a government that accepts the right of Israel to exist," Rice said. "I can't imagine it any other way."

Abbas has had a simple message for U.S. diplomats unhappy with his planned coalition: Take it or leave it. On Sunday, he told Rice the deal with Hamas was the best he could get and asked her to give it a chance, his aides said.

Abbas had tried during months of coalition talks to press Hamas to agree to abide by existing peace accords, something that would imply recognition of Israel. He yielded after many rounds of deadly Palestinian infighting.

More than 130 Palestinians have died in street clashes and other attacks that have alarmed both Palestinians and Israelis, sapped political momentum and threatened to erode Abbas' authority.

"The Americans told us that this agreement is not meeting (international) conditions," for diplomatic recognition and vital aid, said an Abbas aide, Yasser Abed Rabbo. "But we have an understanding with Rice that they will wait until we see this government declare its program."

Olmert said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday that he and President Bush had spoken by phone on Friday about the deal and agreed the Palestinians had to go further.

"A Palestinian government that won't accept the Quartet conditions won't receive recognition and cooperation," Olmert said. "The American and Israeli positions are totally identical on this issue."

[pwrslm]

Every hypocrit hides behind the INETERESTS.

Posted by grazinggoat at 09:48 PM : Feb 18, 2007


I have no idea what an ineterests is. Maybe thats why hypocrits hide behind it. It must be a good hiding place, eh?

[pwrslm]

Yeah...they'd probably lie about someone having WMD's to justify an illegal invasion.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 05:34 PM : Feb 18, 2007


I already invited you to prove that WMD's were a lie, you fell flat on your face.

Wanna try to prove that anyone lied now? From what I see, the only liar is formrusmcsgt. You can take that to the bank "former Marine". (ya, i know your a wanna be, once a marine always a marine, there is no such thing as a former marine...)

[grazinggoat]

the usa can protect it's self and it's interests with or without the un.....
Posted by lars008

-Yo larsehole007. Is it free for all in this world. Can someone define what are the USA or any other nation's INTERESTS?

Every hypocrit hides behind the INETERESTS.

HEY this is the Nation's INTEREST... interest... my A$$, in the last IRAQI war, there were no interest for the USA. It's only Cheney's Haliburton and PNAC's interest.

[formrusmcsgt]

Is Abbas a fool or a tool? The present Israeli and U.S. rulers are not interested in negotiation.
Posted by feelfree1 at 06:00 PM : Feb 18, 2007

Agreed They want status quo ad infinitim while giving lip service to real progress.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Israel will not recognize a Palestinian government that refuses to renounce violence"

It seems reasonable that the Palestinians would take a similar position with respect to Israel.

Is Abbas a fool or a tool? The present Israeli and U.S. rulers are not interested in negotiation.

[formrusmcsgt]

Nice list!
Posted by feelfree1 at 05:52 PM : Feb 18, 2007

Sad, but true.

[feelfree1]

formrusmcsgt,

Ha, ha!

Nice list!

[formrusmcsgt]

The following is a list of Rice's diplomatic sucesses:

[formrusmcsgt]

You can never trust an Arab or a Muslim. They all lie for there own agenda.
Posted by elgraz at 05:13 PM : Feb 18, 2007

Yeah...they'd probably lie about someone having WMD's to justify an illegal invasion.

[elgraz]

Hey George,
I think that you need a piece of arse. Your wife is not cooperating with you as I can see.....that is very evident. Check Hillary Clinton she may be of help. Bill really could care less.

[elgraz]

And don't think that the Palestinian influence is not here in the USA.............It is Amigo !!!!!!!

[elgraz]

Condi should get laid. I think it would help alot.

[elgraz]

Give the Palestinians a chance to knock themselves off. That would save the world. You can never trust an Arab or a Muslim. They all lie for there own agenda. We should round all of them up in the USA and send them back to their respective nations with a few bucks............What a fricken plague on our country !!!!!!!!!!!!

[elgraz]

Right, send a woman to due a man's job in the Middle East...........They are all savages there and respect no one.........A woman ???Forget about it.
Impeach George ******** Bush before we all perish.

[bildooreilly]

I never said that, you sure are good at making stupid assumptions. Actually that sign you're talking is centuries old and comes from europe and it was originally meant to ward off hexes. Pretty funny though you can find photos from the Church of Satan doing the same thing, but the Church of Satan is nothing but a front for the idiots to practice the luciferian religion, the real occultic practices lay in the secret societies that almost every single one of our politicians is a part of, that rules big business, finance, and media. Go look up the Manifesto of The O.T.O. by Aleister Crowley and you'll get a better idea of who they are.




---------------------------------------
bildooreilly, and i suppose all the students at The University of Texas are all cult-loving "devil worshippers" because of their hand gesturing the "sign of the longhorn." Boooooo! Com'on, you need to get out of the house more often. You're a card!
Posted by mdc76082 at 03:39 PM : Feb 18, 2007
+ report this comment

[patriotic9]

lars008
Why do you call people "skippy"or "Haji".Can you try to grow up a little bit?

[rharrin1]

What is Condi going to say about her peaceful Iraq

Saturday she said it is working

Sunday now is it working

[lars008-2009]

it is haji, hajji, hadji..... all are valid haji

[mdc76082]

lars008, it's "oink", "oink". Not "oik", "oik". And, as I mentioned before it's not "haji", it's "hajji". Haji is a name. Hajji's are pilgrims. Muslims aren't fond of pigs. Pigs are considered "dirty" and "filthy" animals to Muslims. You got the wrong "east". There's "Middle East" and theirs "Far East". Year of the Pig comes from the Chinese Zodiac. Also, Nazi's and Muslims do not go together. God, help me, but I hate it when ignorance is bliss. Use a dictionary or encyclopedia, etc., for reference. Thank you.

[mdc76082]

bildooreilly, and i suppose all the students at The University of Texas are all cult-loving "devil worshippers" because of their hand gesturing the "sign of the longhorn." Boooooo! Com'on, you need to get out of the house more often. You're a card!