Rice Demands Palestinian Reform

BBC News ^ | Saturday, 18 June, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to do more to combat violence in the Middle East.

Ms Rice praised the president for the steps already taken towards security reform, but said it was insufficient.

"Much more needs to be done particularly to actively use the security forces to combat lawlessness, and to combat terrorism," she said.

Ms Rice was speaking after talks with the Palestinian leader in Ramallah.

Withdrawal plan

Ms Rice is on the first leg of a two-day regional tour aimed at boosting the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

She will also hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon before travelling to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan to discuss democratic reforms.

The talks come as preparations begin for the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in August.

Ms Rice said that the withdrawal represented the best chance for re-energising the stalled roadmap peace plan.

The internationally backed roadmap, which was adopted in 2003, calls for the creation of a Palestinian state by the end of the year.

However, Ms Rice emphasised that much as the withdrawal provided an opportunity, it calls for real effort from both the Palestinians and Israelis:

"Both parties will have to do their parts if this is to be a peaceful and orderly withdrawal from Gaza," Ms Rice said.

For his part Mr Abbas said he had assured Ms Rice that the Palestinians were ready to work with Israel to ensure the withdrawal is a success:

"We have spoken of our commitment to reforms and peace, and we are totally committed to fully coordinate (with Israel) for a total and clean withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank," Mr Abbas said.

Electoral law approved

Also on Saturday members of the Palestinian parliament in Ramallah passed a compromise law, paving the way for new legislative elections.

The elections had been due to take place in July, but earlier this month they were postponed indefinitely by the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas because of a dispute over how candidates would be selected.

Under the new law, half the members of parliament will be chosen by districts and half from party lists.

The decision to postpone the elections was strongly criticised by the militant group, Hamas, which accused Mr Abbas of playing for time.

[river rat]

To expect these lunatic cockroaches to change at this point in their miserable existence -- would be for them, an admission they have been the Arab Suckers of the Middle East...

If the lunatic Arabs in the area - had spent a FRACTION of their expenditure of Weapons - instead on improving the life of the Palestinians, each would be a millionaire in a villa today!

The Arabs don't want a "good life" for the Palestinians -- so they can be pointed to as "justification" for killing innocent women and children...

The lunatic militant Islamists are a curse on the planet -- and their extinction is probably the only route to peace.

Semper Fi

[BenLurkin]

[TheOtherOne]

Surely the palestinians won't pass up this opportunity...
















....to miss an opportunity. They never do.

[familyop]

..."roadmap?" ..."withdrawal?" Rice is in withdrawal? Did she say something? I didn't read or hear anything but might begin to after she and all of her amoral/dingy kind are off of the government payroll.

[Terpfen]

Ping.

[Blumtoon]

On Dennis Prager's radio show a couple of weeks ago I heard an audio of a Palestinian cleric preaching about how Jews are like the Aids virus. He also said that when the Muslims take over the U.S. and Britain everyone will be treated well except the Jews, who will be exterminated. This guy was preaching on Palestinian state run T.V. (no doubt funded at least partially with our tax dollars).

[Popman]

Under the new law, half the members of parliament will be chosen by districts and half from party lists.

Translation:
Under the new law, half the members of parliament will be chosen by districts and half from party Hamas list

[thoughtomator]

After several decades of this BS it's time to stop the empty rhetoric and stop the flow of US taxpayer dollars to Arab terrorists in the disputed territories of Israel.

[moog]

"If the lunatic Arabs in the area - had spent a FRACTION of their expenditure of Weapons - instead on improving the life of the Palestinians, each would be a millionaire in a villa today! The Arabs don't want a "good life" for the Palestinians -"

It seems I remember that long ago some of the Arab coutnries refused to take in Palestinian refugees.

[familyop]

By "...all of her [Rice's] amoral/dingy kind...," I meant all who are against us "neo-cons." Hamas is an example, and Pat Buchanan is another.

[Alouette]

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[Slings and Arrows]

It seems I remember that long ago some of the Arab coutnries refused to take in Palestinian refugees.

All of the Arab coutnries refused to take in Palestinian refugees with the sole exception of Jordan, and they stopped after Black September.

[Slings and Arrows]

In other news, I demand that my cats stop drinking from the toliets. I expect my demand to be taken just as seriously as Dr. Rice's.

[SevenofNine]

YOu just made great point
PLO is like aging movie diva can't satisfy her LOL!

[Esther Ruth]

".. it's time to stop the empty rhetoric and stop the flow of US taxpayer dollars to Arab terrorists .."



Report: US putting together $3b. aid package to PA

JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Jun. 18, 2005

The United States is attempting to raise a large international package – worth up to $3 billion – to aid the Palestinian Authority in building up Gaza following Israel's withdrawal from the region, according to a report in the New York Times Saturday.

James D. Wolfensohn, the former World Bank president, as well as Palestinian, other Arab and European leaders were working together to assemble the fiscal aid package.

The package would supplement the roughly $1 billion already granted to the PA yearly by the United States and others.

The money would be for specific projects in Gaza, including a seaport, border crossings and other infrastructure.

[Alouette]

If the lunatic Arabs in the area - had spent a FRACTION of their expenditure of Weapons - instead on improving the life of the Palestinians, each would be a millionaire in a villa today!

Don't you know that each and every Palestinian once owned a villa, and vineyards, and orchards, and olive groves, which the eeeevillle Joooz "stole" from them, and to which they claim a "right of return."

If the Palestinians actually owned as much land as they claim the Joooz "stole" from them, Israel would be the size of Texas.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

Much more needs to be done particularly to actively use the security forces to combat lawlessness, and to combat terrorism,

From what I read they're doing everything they intend to do, nothing.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"Rice Demands Palestinian Reform"

Yeah, right! And people in Hell want ice water.