Posted on 01/30/2006 6:37:11 AM PST by Atlantic Bridge
Following her visit to Israel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel travels to the West Bank on Monday to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The German press explores the implications of her decision not to meet the Islamists from Hamas despite their resounding election victory last week. Snip...
....Snip Merkel set three conditions for European cooperation with Hamas: The group must recognize Israel's right to exist, it must renounce violence, and the extremists must also accept the steps that the peace process has already achieved. That, of course, is a tall order for Hamas -- and it's likely unfillable in the immediate future. The problem is that time is one commodity the Palestinian Authority doesn't have. It is effectively broke and could start facing a serious cash crunch as soon as this week. EU foreign ministers were to meet later on Monday in London to discuss whether the roughly €500 million it props up the Palestinians with each year would continue to flow. Snip....
(Excerpt) Read more at service.spiegel.de ...
Hamas needn't worry. They have Jimmie Kahtah on their side. The most flattering comment he had to make was that Hamas, at least, is not corrupt.
I'm sure the mad mullahs in Iran will happily subsidize the Pali gummint.
She is no Thatcher, times and countries are too different. But she is a light in Europe, that´s true!
Hmmm could Merkel be a diamond in the rough? She has suprised me a few times now.
And Germany has a whole bunch of others problems that could use the infusion of that cancelled Palestinian welfare money for.
You are right - but the last time I saw a woman on the European stage with some grit was the redoubtable Mrs T.
I think she would surprise us even more if she had a secure majority.
Hamas will say a few "kind" words and the Euroweenies will have an excuse to relent and keep the money flowing and the Peace Process "alive".
Even after Iran starts moving their army and massive military equipment into Gaza, they will still hope against hope Hamas can be mollified and bought off with warm words and cold cash.
"German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said it would be "unthinkable" for the EU to keep funding the PA, unless Hamas renounced violence against Israel.
Hamas are trying to get the EU on side. Angela Merkel is fit enough for them. A Mrs Thatcher for our times. Who would have thought?
A little light in Europe..."
To quote the Joker from Batman I: "Don't flatter yourself, darling".
Let's try first: "we won't deal with terrorists." It's so cut and dried, which is why I love Condi.
Screw the Euro-trash pacifist pukes (yeah, that hard-core stance of Germany, France, and England against Iran is making headway in leaps and bounds - think mushroom cloud). Ignorance and stupidity is starting to be dangerous.
I wonder if he will get his friend Hugo to help them out.
FINALLY...who would have thought it would take a German woman...well...I've known a few German women so I guess I'm not ALL that surprised!!! LOL!!
She is telling Hamas and its minions, "No soup for you!"
Auch wen man selbst nicht militaerich eingreifen wird im Iran wenn es dazu kommen sollte, so sind solche schritte extrem wichtig.
Die vorherige Administration unter Schroeder ging einen Weg (Der Deutsche Weg wie er verkauft wurde zum Volk) was so viel hieß wie der Westen sprach nicht mit einer Stimme. Der Westen war gespalten und Länder wie Iran, Irak, die Hamas (Was in Wirklichkeit von den Iranern gestützt wird), Afghanistan, Sudan, Libyen usw profitierten davon politisch manchmal sogar Wirtschaftlich. Staaten wie Frankreich sind "Bottomfeeders" und springen schnell auf dem Pferd und machen Geschäfte mit Schurkenstaaten wenn sie nicht gerade gezwungen sind sich richtig zu verhalten. Unter dem Tisch machen die dann schon immer noch ein Bisschen aber zu mindest ist es nicht in großen Ausmaß, was die schnell machen würden mit z.B China.
Deutschland spielt eine WICHTIGE Rolle innerhalb der politischen und wirtschaftlichen Aspekte um diese Probleme in Iran usw zu lösen. Merkel zeigt echte Fuehrungs Kraft. Iran, Hamas...... sie sieht die Gefahren und die Probleme wo die sind. Sie ist Teil der LOESUNG des Problemes und macht sich nicht Teil des Problemes.
Red6
Hamas to Merkel: You don't have the balls to do it so don't embrass yourself with idle threats. Pretend we are behaving and send us the money anyway.
Force the barbarians to go 6 full months with no terrorist attacks BEFORE you send them ANYTHING.
If they can do that, THEN consider giving them money.
Exactly, and that´s a big difference! Many here and in Germany said that Merkel cannot change a lot. Oh yes, she already changed a lot. The mood in the EU is improving, because Germany won´t agree to a Rambo-policy against the smaller states, the love affair with Putin is over, there´s real cooperation between the highest levels of the American and German governments, etc.
Btw, could you please answer the FReepmail I wrote to you a month ago or so? It´ll be your advantage. :)
:)
You and I see eye to eye-
Schroeder created a "core" within the EU and alienated nations like Poland the Check Republic, etc..
The CDU and yes (some will debate this) Kohl created the EU. But never would he have walked the course Schroeder did.
Schroeder was not just bad for the transatlantic relationship, he undermined NATO, alienated other EU states and further damaged the reputation of the UN (Not like they have much of one anyway). Did Schroeder help the people of Iraq? That is a question you need to ask those who clamber on to this self ingratiating sycophant. Did he help solve the issue with Libya? How did he help stabilize the Middle East? The answers are obvious, but some will talk around the questions all day and never answer them.
Merkel is a return to a “Realpolitik”. She is pragmatic and constructive. At least in major international crisis such as Iran Germany can today be depended on as one to bring something to the table constructive.
However, what I fear is the economic disaster zone in which the German economy finds itself today. Externally Merkel will be guaranteed better, but can she internally make major reforms?
Red6
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