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Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei has announced his resignation, saying Hamas must form the next government following the parliamentary elections. It comes as the militant Islamic group appeared to be heading for a shock win. With counting still under way, officials from the ruling Fatah party said Hamas had won a majority. Official results are due at 1900 local time. Israel, the US and the EU consider Hamas a terrorist group and have said they do not want to deal with it. "I am going to present my resignation to President Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] and Hamas should form the...

The Palestinian Authority and Hamas traded accusations over the weekend following an explosion in the Jabalya refugee camp that killed 19 people and injured more than 120. PA officials held Hamas responsible for the explosion, which took place on Friday evening during a Hamas rally to celebrate the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, however, claimed Israel was behind the explosion and vowed to resume attacks on Israeli targets. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday blamed Hamas for the explosion. Addressing thousands of supporters in Ramallah, Abbas said, "I greet you today in...

Thursday, July 28, 2005 Palestinian Terms for Peace The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct 'Palestinian people' to oppose Zionism. -- PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein, March 31, 1977 Let us, for the sake...

Nov. 26, 2003 40 MKs protest Qurei's visit to Ze'evi's assassins By JPOST.COM STAFF Former Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi Photo: Archive Forty MKs (members of Knesset) from ruling coalition factions have signed a petition calling on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz to deal with the murderers of former Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi as they would "any other ticking bombs." Ze'evi, known by the nickname of Gandhi, was shot dead by Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine gunmen on October 17, 2001, at Jerusalem's Hyatt Hotel. The petition, initiated by the National Union party, comes...

Nov. 19, 2003 PA setting up road blocks to find tunnel road shooter By LAMIA LAHOUD PA police set up check-points in Bethlehem on Wednesday to look for the Palestinian who carried out Tuesday's shooting attack in the city in which two soldiers were killed, a source close to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat said. He added that this was a result of the decision by the PA's security council to implement law and order. He did not know how and if the PA would punish the shooter if they apprehend him. The source close to Arafat said the Palestinian leader...

Nov. 16, 2003 Qurei: Time to end anarchy By JPOST.COM STAFF Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei announced his intention to make changes in the Palestinian security forces. In his upcoming meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Omar Sulieman, the two are scheduled to discuss ways to "end the anarchy that reigns in the territories," he said Sunday at the end of a meeting of the Palestinian National Security Council in Ramallah. Qurei has proposed re-establishing and making personnel changes at the Palestinian security organization, and founding local and municipal councils, trade organizations, and civilian organizations. Following his meeting with Suleiman,...

Nov. 4, 2003 Inner power struggle delays announcement of PA cabinet IMG SRC="http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?ssbinary=true&cachecontrol=*%3A0%2C30%3A10+*%2F*%2F*&blobtable=JPImage&blobcol=urlimage&blobwhere=1067920690476&blobkey=id&blobheader=image/jpeg"> An ongoing power struggle between Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on Tuesday spoiled plans to announce a new PA cabinet. Hours before the 30-day mandate of the emergency cabinet was due to expire on Tuesday midnight, Arafat summoned Qurei and asked him to remain at the head of a caretaker cabinet until the two resolve their dispute over the appointment of an interior minister responsible for the PA police and security forces. "Arafat asked Ahmed Qurei to continue his job as the...

Nov. 3, 2003 Arafat holding up Qurei govt. over interior minister By ASSOCIATED PRESS PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei Photo: AP Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and Yasser Arafat made no apparent progress Monday toward resolving their dispute over the choice of security chief, the main hurdle to forming a new government. Qureia said after a two-hour meeting with the veteran Palestinian leader that the issue is "still under study." Qurei's formal deadline for forming a Cabinet is midnight Tuesday, though an Arafat aide later said he could ask for more time. Renewed political wrangling over the composition of the...

Our Newspapers Fail Us Editorial - Israel News Agency There is no public relations or public affairs without a carrier. The most established carrier is called a newspaper. And in Israel the only newspapers which enjoy abundant readership and wealth are the Hebrew dailies – Yediot, Maariv and Haaertz. As for the English newspapers here in Israel – one is a mere translation of the Hebrew edition and the other is fifty percent wire service copy. Yes – there are some brilliant writers on these papers but their voices become deluded when you have a lack of proper leadership integrated...