 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday turned down an offer from the moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to resume peace talks as five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a training base of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza City.
| I don't speak Hebrew, mind you, but I think that can be loosely translated as "Hell, no!" |
An army spokeswoman confirmed that an Israeli aircraft had fired missiles at the training base in the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood of the city in the first military strike since the new governing coalition took office Thursday. Among the victims was Jumaa Doughmoush, brother of committees member Momtaz Doughmoush, who was behind a failed car bombing at the Karni crossing between Israel and Gaza, medics said. The rest of the dead were also members of the Doughmoush family but Momtaz himself escaped, committees spokesman Abu Sherif said.
| Cue "Family Affair" theme... |
 Meanwhile, thousands of indignant Palestinians marched throughout the Gaza Strip and the West Bank yesterday in support of the beleaguered Hamas-led government, heeding calls by the Islamic group to remain defiant in the face of a bruising economic boycott by the West.
| "Death to the infidels! We're Numbah One!... At something." |
Earlier, in a push for peace, Abbas phoned Olmert to congratulate the Israeli leader on formation of his new government, which was sworn into office late Thursday, according to Palestinian officials. OlmertÂ’s aides said a meeting with Abbas would be possible, but ruled out negotiations as long as the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority refuses to recognize Israel or renounce violence.
| Kinda hard to hold peace talks when somebody's trying to kill you, isn't it? |
Hamas has refused to budge, despite the urgings of Abbas and intense economic pressure by Western donors. The United States and European Union have cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to the Palestinian Authority, demanding that Hamas end its calls for IsraelÂ’s destruction.
| All they have to do is wait them out. They know they Euros will come around... |
In an attempt to avert a humanitarian crisis, the EU proposed yesterday creating a fund to funnel aid to the Palestinians while bypassing the Hamas government.
| That way the Hamas government can concentrate on the important things, like launching rockets. Having to put together a budget and raise money and such would distract them. |
The proposed fund would be jointly run by the EU, the US, Russia and the United Nations, which together form the Quartet of sponsors of the road map Mideast peace plan. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the fund, to be discussed at a Quartet meeting next week, would allow the international community to ease the dire conditions of the Palestinian people while avoiding contact with Hamas.
| And relieving Hamas of the responsibility of easing the dire conditions of the Paleostinian people. |
In Gaza City, protesters burned and trampled American, British and Israeli flags. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Hamas collected donations in boxes from thousands of supporters, including women who gave their necklaces and rings. “Collecting donations from people is not going to solve the problem but it is a symbol for the Arab and Muslim countries because when they see that we give to our government they will start doing the same,” said Ibrahim Abu Salem, a Hamas lawmaker from Jerusalem. |