World Leaders Support Fatah

[Christina]

World Leaders Pushing Support for Fatah Over Hamas by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz(IsraelNN.com) The European Union, Russia, the United Nations, the Arab League, the United States and even Israel are expressing explicit or implied support for Fatah in its battle with Hamas over control of the Palestinian Authority. Quartet officials also expressed support for Abbas Saturday.Among the issues Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will discuss with US President George W. Bush during Olmert's trip to the US Sunday and Monday will be the establishment of an aid package for the head of Mahmoud Abbas' emergency Palestinian Authority government, which will not include Hamas. In addition to his position as PA chairman, Abbas is the head of the Fatah terrorist organization currently battling the Islamist Hamas terrorist group for power in the PA. In an interview with news agencies Saturday, US Consul-General Jacob Walles in Jerusalem said that "there won't be any obstacles, economically and politically, in terms of reengaging with this (Abbas-appointed) government. Yes, they will have full support." Prime Minister Olmert left for Washington and New York Saturday night, and is scheduled to meet with Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and UN officials. Quartet officials also expressed support for Abbas Saturday. In a published statement, Quartet members - Russia, the UN, the US and the EU - said that they "understood and supported the decision to disperse the Palestinian Authority cabinet and declare a state of emergency, given the grave circumstances" in Gaza. In a meeting Friday night, the Arab League said that it supported the "integrity of the legitimate institutions of the Palestinian Authority." The League statement implies support for the continued regime of Mahmoud Abbas, yet without ruling out the elected legislature controlled by Hamas. PA chief Abbas, meanwhile, said that he would not speak with the new Hamas government in Gaza. Hamas politburo head Khaled Mashaal in Damascus said that he respected Abbas, and that Hamas had "no intention of taking over the Palestinian Authority." In the field, however, Hamas threatened to attack Fatah members and installations in Judea and Samaria if Fatah did not stop its "acts of terrorism" against Hamas members. Over the past several days, Fatah agents under the command of Abbas have arrested about 150 Hamas members in Shechem, Jenin and Ramallah. "What is happening in the West Bank is a real coup and real terrorism," Hamas official PA chief Abbas said that he would not speak with the new Hamas government.Abu Zuhri said. "We will not stand handcuffed against these crimes in the West Bank. We will take all steps to secure an end to these crimes." In Gaza, hundreds of Arabs fleeing from the Hamas takeover of the territory managed to cross through the Erez Crossing into pre-1967 Israel. IDF troops sequestered the escapees and later bussed them to PA areas in Judea and Samaria. As they passed through the crossing, many of the Arabs began wildly destroying property and stealing equipment. Troops later fired in the air to keep the Gazans on their side of the border. Many of those who escaped to Israel were among the top Fatah terrorists arrested by Hamas over the past few days. They were released and were required to sign a document stating that they would not work against the Hamas takeover.

 

[HammerStone]

I had the pleasure of meeting this guy in the past. This cartoon could not have said it better.http://www.cagle.com/working/070614/arial.gif

 

[Christina]

You are right that is good one