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FYI...a national program and a national plan

Palestinian PM holds talks with Islamic groups

Qureia arrived in Gaza under heavy guard and accompanied by Parliament Speaker Rauhi Fattouh, who would step in as a caretaker president of the Palestinian Authority. The men did not comment to reporters.

Eight vehicles full of security forces joined his motorcade, roads were closed, and dozens of Palestinian police guarded the area. In his year as prime minister, Qureia has traveled to the volatile Gaza Strip only two or three times.

The situation is particularly delicate in Gaza, where rival groups of gunmen and security officials have fought each other in the streets, jockeying for power ahead of Israel's planned withdrawal from the coastal strip in 2005.

Qureia's first meeting consisted of leaders of the Islamic groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as chiefs of the competing Palestinian security forces in Gaza.

After the meeting, Qureia said the security commanders had committed to a "joint security plan ... to ensure security and order."

He said the Islamic groups "reiterated the importance" of working together with the Palestinian government "to reach a national program and a national plan and to achieve a political partnership."

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/detail.asp?GRP=D&id=54183

Then there's this:

Your Tax Dollars at Work for Muslim Prayer Room

Barre Montpelier Times Argus ^ | 11/6/2004 | agitate

Posted on 11/06/2004 7:44:40 PM MST by Agitate

Via Dhimmiwatch: http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/003809.php

November 05, 2004

Washington: State Department sets up prayer room for Muslims

Hey, that's swell. I can't wait to pray in the new State Department chapel for Christians.

What's that you say? There is no such place? How's that again? Establishment clause, you say? What's that?

From AP, with thanks to Ali Dashti:

WASHINGTON — In a gesture to Muslims, the State Department on Thursday set up a prayer room for some 150 guests invited to dinner by Secretary of State Colin Powell to end their daylight Ramadan fast.

Rugs were placed in the well-furnished room off to the side of the Ben Franklin dining room so the Muslims could observe the call to prayer that traditionally precedes the end of fasting at nightfall.

Afterward, the Muslims, men and women sitting side by side, dined on lamb and chicken and were assured by Powell that "we will move aggressively forward to deal with the Middle East peace process and with terrorism."

"In the United States you will find no better friend and partner," Powell said.

Offering a brief civics lesson, Powell told them "you saw American democracy in action" on election day. And, he said, "we air our differences openly."

Powell also said "America is open to all," but because of security concerns "we have caused some inconvenience for travelers."

It was the third consecutive year Powell marked the religious event with an Iftar dinner at the State Department, and each year a prayer room was made available, department protocol officials said.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1273205/post