Abbas invites Hamas to join Cabinet

Jerusalem Post ^ | 7/1/2005 | AP

[Sabramerican]

Abbas invites Hamas to join Cabinet

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Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST

Jul. 1, 2005

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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has invited Hamas to immediately join his Cabinet to help him oversee the smooth handover of the Gaza Strip following the Israeli withdrawal this summer, a Hamas official said Friday.

Hamas is considering the offer, a senior official in the group said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made. The official said the Islamic group's leadership in Gaza and abroad would make the final decision on whether to join Abbas' government.

Abbas made the offer earlier this week after Hamas demanded a special committee be formed to oversee the transfer of powers in Gaza. Abbas rejected the Hamas demand, but invited them to join his Cabinet instead, the Hamas official added.

Israel is worried Abbas' fledgling government and the lack of unity among his security forces will lead to chaos in the Gaza Strip after an evacuation in August.

Abbas has pledged to ensure a smooth transfer of powers and to prevent militants from firing on withdrawing soldiers and settlers. The Palestinian leader has also said he will ensure the land Israel evacuates will be taken over by his Palestinian Authority and not looters.

But as the withdrawal nears, a fragile truce Abbas reached with Hamas and other militant groups is falling apart. Israeli-Palestinian violence has increased in recent weeks after a lull that resulted from a cease-fire declared in February at a Mideast summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm e-Sheikh.

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[Sabramerican]

May 27, 2005

President George W. Bush embraced Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday as a courageous democratic reformer and bolstered his standing at home with $50 million in assistance to improve the quality of life in Gaza.

[Destro]

This is what Bush meant by using democracy to diffuse the terrorist mindset. The British model for peace with the IRA if you will. You can't support Bush's program without supporting something like this. I hope it works - I am pessimistic.

[bpjam]

Maybe the Congressional Black Caucus will invite Osama to caucus with them. What's next???

[Sabramerican]

So you're saying the Bush poicy is: if you can't beat them, have them run for the school board.

Brings up a whole new meaning to: "Run bin Ladin run".

[Destro]

If you want to spin Bush's policy of spreading democracy to middle east that way, I guess.

[USAfearsnobody]

You can't support Bush's program without supporting something like this. I hope it works - I am pessimistic.

I'm not pessimistic at all. And BTW, "Palestine" is less of a democracy than Iraq is at the moment, so I wouldn't be surprised if things collapsed as they are now. However, if Palestine liberalizes, then the fact will remain that true, that functioning democracies never go to war with each other.

[thoughtomator]

If the program involves taking my money by force to fund terrorists, then no, I don't support it.

[SJackson]

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

..................

Personally I think not dealing with terrorists is a better idea.

THE COVENANT OF THE HAMAS

A Pro-Hamas Foreign Policy?-Why is Washington urging terrorists to run for elective office? Secretary Rice on CNN: US will respect elections if Hamas wins

White House: OK if Hamas controls PLC- "business professionals...not terrorists"

White House: Hamas members elected in PA not terrorists

Hamas calls for "economic Jihad" against the U.S.

HAMAS' Al-Rantisi Says US 'First Enemy' of Palestinian People

Rantisi: We will drive all Jews out of Palestine [And Bush is troubled by trying to assasinate him?]

Target Israeli politicians: Rantisi

Hamas admits being part of global jihad

Hamas Release Video Of British Suicide Bombers

The Globalization of Hamas Terrorism (America and Canada on their agenda)

GLOBAL JIHAD -- Report: Hamas planned attacks in U.S.

Yassin: Jewish state could be established in Europe

Israel: Canadian admits to planning attacks in N. America: DON'T IGNORE THIS

Hamas Leader Rantisi -- "Massacre The Jews"

Hamas in America-The question may no longer be if Hamas will attack America, but when.

[Sabramerican]

For your lists. I thought I posted this as breaking news- which it is.

[Destro]

you are indirectly supporting this with your tax dollars.

[thoughtomator]

I know that. Which is why I oppose any spending with regards to the Palestinians other than on bombs to kill them.

[Sabramerican]

not dealing with terrorists

Who said they're terrorists?

So they blow up civilian buses and pizza parlors. Nobody's perfect.

[SJackson]

Seems to me the administration is going to have to consider ordering

Free Abdurahman Alamoudi!

T-Shirts for Dr. Mazen's next visit. 23 years is a long sentence for financing "businessmen".

[Sabramerican]

Not just free him but how about putting him in O’Connor's seat?

We've had Whites and Blacks, Christians and Jews, Men and Women. Never a terrorist though. Isn't it time to stop discriminating against terrorists?

Sarcasm/

[Alouette]

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

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[razoroccam]

Reminds me of the Arab story about the bedoin who invited the camel into the tent to spend the night (no, it has nothing to do with sex). Pretty soon, the bedoin found himself outside the tent - the camel had taken over.

[M. Espinola]

"Abbas invites Hamas to join Cabinet"

If there was any doubt it's all erased now - a terrorist is a terrorist!

[sheik yerbouty]

There will be war.

[Nachum]

This whole deal stinks of James Baker.

[sheik yerbouty]

Hence the term, "getting humped".