Posted on 01/14/2006 12:45:27 PM PST by SmithL
A new public opinion poll published on Saturday showed the ruling Fatah party and Hamas running a close race ahead of parliamentary elections slated for January 25.
Security sources in the American government warned that the US will cut funding to the Palestinian Authority if Hamas representatives would be elected to official positions in the new government that was expected to form.
According to Israel Radio, the warning came following a meeting between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and US representatives David Welch and Elliot Abrams.
Welch and Abrams also met with Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert earlier in the day, in the presence of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's aides Dov Weisglass and Shalom Tourjeman. This was Olmert's first meeting with these representatives since he took the role of acting prime minister some 10 days ago. Olmert was also scheduled to meet with US President George Bush in the near future.
Meanwhile, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar announced that his movement would not abandon the armed struggle against Israel or negotiate with any Israeli after, when and if, it wins the elections. He disclosed that a Hamas-controlled cabinet would incorporate Palestinian Authority policemen into armed groups that are fighting against Israel.
Conducted by the Development Studies Program at Bir Zeit University, the poll showed that if elections were held today, Fatah would win 35 percent of the votes as opposed to 30 percent for Hamas.
The Independent Palestine List, headed by political activist Mustafa Barghouti, came in third with only six percent. The poll, which was conducted last week, covered some 1,500 voters and has a three percent margin of error. About 25% of those polled said they still haven't decided whom to vote for. However, most said they were leaning to casting their ballots for Hamas.
Commenting on the results of the poll, Nader Said, director of the Development Studies Program, said it shows that "competition between Fatah and Hamas is at its highest level."
He noted that this was the first time in the history of the polls that Fatah and Hamas have been so close.
Addressing a Hamas rally in the southern city of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, Zahar reiterated his movement's opposition to any form of economic and security cooperation with Israel.
"To all those who claim that Hamas has abandoned the resistance option because of its participation in the election, we say that we remain committed to the resistance," he declared.
"Israel is an enemy, not a partner or a friend or a neighbor. We won't negotiate with them and this is our final position. Palestine, all of Palestine, belongs to the Muslims and the Arabs and no one has the right to give up one inch of its land."
Fathi Hamad, a Hamas candidate from the Gaza Strip, said his movement would continue to develop its armed wing, Izzaddin al-Kassam, by recruiting more members and manufacturing more rockets and bombs.
The fiery statements of the Hamas leaders come against a backdrop of reports suggesting that Hamas's victory in the parliamentary elections could have a moderating effect on the movement.
Hamas's decision to run in the elections has been interpreted by some Palestinians as recognition of the Oslo Accords and a sign of the movement's willingness to soften its position toward Israel. Its election campaign pointedly ignores the call for the destruction of Israel and focuses instead on internal issues related to financial corruption and lawlessness.
Cut funding ZERO regardless.
Sorry. I'm not feeling well today. My post should have read "cut funding to ZERO regardless."
"Why are we funding the Palestinian Authority????"
Good question.
Why wait?
We should cut ALL funding to the "Palestinians" no matter who wins.
We never had any business funding them in the first place.
US tax monies to Egypt, Jordan, Syria (yes, indirectly Syria) Palestine Authority, and everybody else MUST STOP. No more from Uncle Sucker.
Because we're temporarily ruled by Big Stupid Government, which thinks their capacity to steal from us is unlimited and that we'll put up with their insane, ridiculous crap forever.
BSG is wrong on both counts.
Cut funding no matter what!
Any funding whatsoever to these barbaric savages should be eliminated IMMEDIATELY.
We shoule NEVER have given them a CENT!
Just imagine what they do with the money we give them.
How STUPID can anybody be than to give money to this RABID Rabble whose agenda consists simply of eradicating Israel, killing all the Jews, and coverting or enslaving the rest of us.
Instead of giving the Palis cash, we should just give them advice: "Don't mess with Israel."
What the Federal Government should be doing is spending whatever it takes to provide for the common defense. Every time I hear some mealy mouthed admin clown saying "we don't have enough border guards because we don't have enough budget" my molars start to gind. What BS!
We should be producing whatever number of nuclear missile launch platforms (Boomers) as necessary to enforce an edict to those who would attack us: "Better dig your own graves first."
then what happens to the democratic choice ?
I would guess it was part of some past President's plan to secure himself a Nobel Peace Prize down the road...
Of course. It's just theft. Try convincing any of the parasites on either side of the handouts, though.
We should be producing whatever number of nuclear missile launch platforms (Boomers) as necessary to enforce an edict to those who would attack us: "Better dig your own graves first."
And since the dumbass Moos seem eager to die, we need to make it clear that they will die with bacon-dipped bullets - and whatever other methods are necessary to convince these superstitious morons that they will not only die, they will die unclean and go straight to Hell. We need to quit screwing around with suicidal Moos and convince them they'll burn forever. Plain old killing the bastards isn't good enough.
And good luck trying to convince our Big Stupid Government of that, prior to the next WMD attack on us. Maybe after the inevitable next attack we'll finally get serious. Or not.
I'd submit that less than 1% of the "aid" we give the Pali's goes to the people. The remainder is being sponged up into the Swiss accounts of their leaders.
Of the 1%, a goodly sum goes to purchase candy when some jihadi bastard murders a bunch of non-muzzi civilians, or when an Israeli leader dies or has a stroke, a la Sharon.
Our money must stop being paid to these murderous savages. Period. Write your congress critter, the State Department, and Dubya to express your disgust with this program. We already know it is impossible to appease or buy off this vermin. Why try?
I'd submit that less than 1% of the "aid" we give the Pali's goes to the people. The remainder is being sponged up into the Swiss accounts of their leaders. Arafart taught his successors well.
Of the 1%, a goodly sum goes to purchase candy when some jihadi bastard murders a bunch of non-muzzi civilians, or when an Israeli leader dies or has a stroke, a la Sharon.
Our money must stop being paid to these murderous savages. Period. Write your congress critter, the State Department, and Dubya to express your disgust with this program. We already know it is impossible to appease or buy off this vermin. Why try?
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