Posted on 05/04/2011 4:45:45 AM PDT by SJackson
Carter: Palestinian unity will help bring peace
By JPOST.COM STAFF
05/04/2011 10:03
In 'Washington Post' article, former US president says Palestinian unity deal will prevent violence, lead to peace agreement with Israel.
Former US president Jimmy Carter wrote an article Wednesday telling Washington and the international community to support the Palestninian unity government.
In a Washington Post article, Carter wrote that "if the United States and the international community support this effort, they can help Palestinian democracy and establish the basis for a unified Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza that can make a secure peace with Israel." However, "if they remain aloof or undermine the agreement," it may lead to more violence against Israel.
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Carter added that the accord between Hamas and Fatah are "a Palestinian contribution to the 'Arab awakening,'" and that a Palestinian state can not be formed while they are divided. "Instead of exacerbating differences between the two parties," he wrote, "the international community should help them resolve disagreements through electoral and legislative processes."
The former US president explained that support for the Palestinian unity agreement "could lead to a durable cease-fire," and the end of rockets being launched into Israel.
"Many Israelis say that as long as the Palestinians are divided, there is no partner for peace," Carter wrote. "But at the same time, they refuse to accept a unity government."
Carter also claimed that the accord could ultimately lead to a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians because Abbas will represent all Palestinians. He called for such an agreement to include "an exchange of prisoners for the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit and a settlement freeze" and mutual recognition of Israel and Hamas.
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Zahar: Hamas will never recognize Israel
By JPOST.COM STAFF
05/04/2011 10:50
Hamas official says Palestinians will not recognize the rule of "Poles and Ethiopians," Shaath: Quartet conditions are irrelevant.
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar said on Wednesday that Palestine is "hallowed ground" and that his organization will never recognize Israel.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Zahar said that Palestinians will not give up on their right to Palestine, while recognizing the rule of Poles and Ethiopians in their land.
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Zahar added that this should not prevent Israel from negotiating with Hamas, pointing out that Israel negotiated for captive soldier Gilad Schalit's release despite the fact that Hamas never recognized "the Israeli enemy."
"Talks are a means, but recognition is a matter of principle," Zahar told Al Jazeera.
Hamas and Fatah plan to sign a unity agreement in Cairo on Wednesday, ending a four-year feud between the two main Palestinian movements that remain ideologically and geographically divided.
Senior Fatah Central Committee member and PA negotiator Nabil Shaath said in an interview with Israel Radio Wednesday that Hamas should not be asked to recognize Israel.
Russia and "many others agree with us that the old rules of the quartet were not logical, and are not workable," Shaath said. "They have no place" in the current formula anymore, he added, "Stop asking Hamas."
To make his point, the Fatah official asked whether Israel would be ready to recognize Hamas.
Regarding continued security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Shaath said, "I would like to see the two governments continue the relationships necessary to run the country," adding that PA security forces would continue to prevent violence against Israel.
Also speaking with Israel Radio, Hamas Deputy Foreign Minister in Gaza Razi Hamed said that Hamas wants peace, but that "the occupation is the root of all [the Palestinians'] problems." He added that Hamas is willing to accept a Palestinian state within pre-1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital.
However, he said, in order for peace to take place, Palestinian refugees must be allowed to "return to their homes" in Israel.
More important than anything, Hamed said, is unity between Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, speaking ahead of the official signing of a reconciliation agreement between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah scheduled to take place before noon on Wednesday.
Jimmy Carter was supposedly one of the most intelligent individuals to ever become President, but if he thinks that the Palestinians will ever be at peace with Israel he is a moron.
Based on what, Jimmeh?
Looks like your "being on the wrong side of things" streak will continue.
There is no fool like an old fool.
Now, now! Poor Jimmy has a lot of work ahead to keep his position as “the worst ever”, now that he has a challenger to that claim!
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Miss Liliane, if there were ever a dispensation given for having an abortion, I am absolutely convinced you would have qualified to get it.
Carter’s idea of peace is to kill all Jews.
Carter is a racist pig who will not be satisfied until every Jew on the planet has been exterminated.
Cater means “peace” in the sense that he hopes all the Jewish citizens of Israel will be dead.
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