Wednesday, November 26, 2008

While Thousands in Gaza Starve, Arab Puppet Ministers Meet, Again!


Arab FMs: We won't tolerate a division within Palestinian ranks

"....The meeting comes three days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah movement controls the West Bank, threatened to call elections early next year if his Hamas rivals controlling Gaza don't open reconciliation talks - an ultimatum that could deepen the rift.

Arab League Amr Moussa who called the Wednesday emergency meeting said Arabs should not accept any "political vacuum" in Palestinian Authority and not "tolerate a division in the Palestinian ranks."

Hamas has rejected Abbas' threat to call the elections, widely seen as an effort to pressure the Islamic militant group and pave the way for Abbas to restore his authority over Gaza.

According to diplomats at the meeting in Cairo, Abbas is pressuring Arab countries to punish Hamas for its refusal to give up control of the Mediterranean strip. They say, however, that the Arab stand is not unified and that some countries, such as Qatar and Syria, favor a softer approach to accommodate the militant movement.

The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said Moussa also made it clear he would not support any condemnation or isolation of Hamas at this point......"

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