Thursday, August 16, 2007

Of All People, Only the Palestinians Would Accept a Clear Traitor and a War Criminal, as a "President." Tell That to the Iraqi Resistance.


Fatah leader: rapprochement with Hamas before Ramadan

From Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank

"A high-ranking Fatah leader has predicted that a “rapprochement” with Hamas will be reached before the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan which begins on the 13th or 14th September.

The Ramallah-based official, who asked for anonymity “because of the sensitivity of the subject,” said he believed that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was reconsidering his earlier stiff position vis-à-vis Hamas.....

“I think Abbas has reasoned that saying ‘No’ to all Arab and foreign mediation efforts is counterproductive, self-defeating and inexpedient for Palestinian national interests,” said the official who occupied a ministerial portfolio in the Oslo-era Palestinian governments.

“You see, the vast bulk of Palestinians want an agreement between Fatah and Hamas as soon as possible. Nobody is comfortable with this abnormal, even depressive, situation, and there are certain signs that many Palestinians are blaming Abbas and Fatah for the current deadlock because their refusal to sit down with Hamas and end the crisis.”

Asked if he thought that Israel would ultimately prevent Abbas from mending ties with Hamas, the official said Israel would certainly try hard “to keep Abbas within the Israeli-American circle.

“Of course, they are striving, using carrots and sticks, to keep him within the Israeli-American circle. However, it is quite obvious that the President is realizing that Israel is not really sincere about peace and that the upcoming regional conference will be just another illusion......"

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