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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Al-Zahar wants 'Palestine from river to sea' |
| 2006-04-05 |
| Palestinian foreign minister, Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar tells officials ministry's policy should be to establish Palestinian state in place of Israel, says Jewish State must not be recognized Ali Waked Israel must not be recognized and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry should aim to establish a Palestinian State from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean, in place of the Jewish State, PA Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar said according to Palestinian media reports. Al-Zahar made the remarks during his first meeting with Foreign Ministry officials and ahead of the first session to be held by the Hamas-led Palestinian government. Fatah officials, who are closely monitoring the situation, said in recent hours that prospects for the continued existence of the Hamas government appear slim. Such government would not be able to last as long as Hamas refrains from modifying its positions, which only serve to isolate the cabinet, the Fatah sources said. The Hamas-led government's first session will be held Wednesday in Ramallah and Gaza and be headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The session will be held via satellite, with more than half of the government ministers staying in Ramallah. No diplomatic declarations are expected during the meeting, which will be mostly dedicated to internal Palestinian affairs, and particularly efforts to battle the financial crisis faced by the PA through a three-month emergency plan. Meanwhile, the Palestinian street is closely monitoring the new government's conduct and its chances of survival, while Hamas works to end the growing isolation faced by the government. Elsewhere, London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat reported that Fatah is considering the establishment of a shadow cabinet that would operate along the Hamas government and be ready to take its place should the official government collapse. Efforts to pay PA officials Ahead of Wednesday's session, several Hamas ministers met Tuesday with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to discuss ways for the government and PA leader to work together. Palestinian Finance Minister Omar Abdel-Razek said that the government continues to engage in fundraising efforts in order to pay the salaries of Palestinian officials. Starting this month, the Hamas government's mission will be first and foremost to guarantee the payment of salaries to approximately 150,000 Palestinian clerks and security personnel. PA sources estimated that the delays in salary payments would in fact mark the beginning of the government's countdown toward collapse, but Hamas officials said that the movement plans on undertaken all efforts in order to prolong the government's life "for the sake of the Palestinian people." In the meantime, the Hamas faction announced that it was making amendments in the distribution of roles in the faction. Following the appointment of Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar as the Palestinian government's foreign minister, Dr. Khalil al-Haya will be appointed the faction chairman. In addition, the faction decided on changes in the posts of the faction chairman's deputies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #9 How do they expect to pay for the land? i don't think eminent domain will work over there and all the D-9's are pointing the wrong way. |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2006-04-05 15:50 |
| #8 It's not about the land or about Moslems being "humiliated." It's really about the stuff. The Palestinians want the Israelis' stuff (infrastructure, economy, developed agriculture, tech, business, etc.). It's about stealing their stuff. |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2006-04-05 15:38 |
| #7 The only good thing we can say about Hamas is they say what they think and want to do. Not the political correct lies of the P.A, about a two state solution. This stupid lie that the Israelis and Americans want to buy. |
| Posted by: Claimble Angomotle5042 2006-04-05 12:01 |
| #6 Learn how to swim, Mahmoud. |
| Posted by: newc 2006-04-05 11:56 |
| #5 What Mahmoud al-Zahar really wants is a Hellfire suppository. He just doesn't know it ... yet. He||, you'd have thought that Arafat's timely demise would have ushered in a new era for Israeli-Palestinian relations. Instead, into the power-vacuum has scurried every maggot, louse and cockroach that could possibly gain admission. I hope that Israel and the IDF both have evolved an equally hostile response doctrine to deal with the Palestinians' wholly terrorist government. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-04-05 11:27 |
| #4 Oh, I thought the Saudis and Iranians were going to bankroll them? Isn't that what they said? As far as the Saudis go, make sure you get cash, don't ever take a personal check. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-04-05 10:21 |
| #3 No diplomatic declarations are expected during the meeting, which will be mostly dedicated to internal Palestinian affairs, and particularly efforts to battle the financial crisis faced by the PA through a three-month emergency plan. Free donkey parking is available, but lunch will not be served and please do not forget to bring your own bottled water. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-05 08:42 |
| #2 OK, fine. From the Jordan river to the Arabian Sea. You can have it. No moslems west of the river, though. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2006-04-05 08:40 |
| #1 Well, there goes the "kinder, gentler" Hamas PR campaign. $50 for schwarmas for the MSM down the drain. |
| Posted by: Creans Chomogum3852 2006-04-05 08:40 |