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Middle East
Hamas: No
2003-05-23
Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen has failed to convince the leading Islamic militant group Hamas to call a halt to attacks on Israel. Abu Mazen, under pressure from Israel and the United States to bring an end to the 32-month-long Palestinian uprising, met with senior Hamas leader Abdul Aziz Rantissi and two other top figures, Ismail Abou Shanab and Ismail Haniya. He was accompanied by his minister of state for security, Mohammed Dahlan.
Rantissi and Shanab are both politburo members. Haniya's a Gaza bigshot. Dahlan's not dead yet. I doubt the fundos will try to kill him — too public a figure. I think they'll try and disgrace him and drive him out of town...
After the meeting, Mr Haniya said Hamas would only end its suicide attacks in Israel if the Israeli army put an end to its policy of targeted killings of key militants, stopped its incursions into Palestinian territory and released Palestinian prisoners. However, he said the battle against the Israeli military and against Jewish settlers would continue. Characterising the meeting with Abu Mazen as "important and positive," Mr Haniya said he had reiterated Hamas' views on the "right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupation".
"Without boomers, we ain't squat. So we'll keep right on boomin', whether it accomplishes anything or not..."
For his part, Palestinian information minister Nabil Amr, who also attended the meeting, described it as a "serious point of departure for a national dialogue that will strengthen the ranks of Palestinians". Meanwhile, a leader of Hamas' smaller rival, Islamic Jihad, Mohammed al-Hindi, said he had been called on to meet with Abu Mazen, but that no date had been set.
IJ won't stop booming, either.
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#7  That might be a very good idea, BOR...

"...Mr Haniya said Hamas would only end its suicide attacks in Israel if the Israeli army put an end to its policy of targeted killings of key militants, stopped its incursions into Palestinian territory and released Palestinian prisoners."

Looks to me like they're worried about
1) not gettin' greased personally
2) not gettin' greased institutionally
3) gettin' their buds outa stir
in that order...
Posted by: mojo   2003-05-23 22:23:57  

#6  Looks like it's time to load up the Hellfires and go a-hunting full-time for Hamas members.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2003-05-23 16:33:01  

#5  I have a new policy for Sharon and Israel: Every time the Paleos blow up something, or stage a suicide attack, or kill an Israeli, they lose one square mile of "palestine". Once all the land within Israel's borders are secure, and the Gaza and Left Bank are occupied, start on Lebanon and Syria. Sooner or later someone's going to get smart, but I don't expect it very soon...
Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-05-23 14:55:44  

#4  I've long felt that the only way Hamas (and Is Jihad, etc.) will be brought to a stop is if Egyptian security forces go into Gaza in large numbers and Jordanian forces in Nablas, etc.

Obviously Abu M doesn't have the force to do it themselves.
Posted by: mhw   2003-05-23 14:42:18  

#3  booming accomplishes plenty from point of view of hamas (and, probably, Arafat) Booming makes it very hard for Sharon to make any concessions, political or on the ground to Mazen. Mazen in turn, without getting concessions from Sharon, has nothing to offer the Pal street, and gathers no support. Makes it that much harder for him to put his people in and take arafats people out. also makes him more vulnerable to being pushed out by arafat. And makes it even harder for sharon to make concessions to him(mazen). Altogher a lovely little downward spiral from hamas viewpoint.

This doesnt answer whether or not abu mazen really has the will for a crackdown, or whether an upward spiral is really sustainable. I dont think Hamas is interested in taking a chance though.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-05-23 13:46:32  

#2  Abu Mazen: "See? I asked them nicely but they said 'no'. Nothin' else I can do." *shrug*
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2003-05-23 13:03:39  

#1  Psalm 122:6-8
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
Posted by: BibleGuy   2003-05-23 12:46:56  

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