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Israel puts off sanctions against Hamas
 Interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert decided to wait until after Hamas assumes control of the Palestinian parliament to decide on new measures aimed at weakening the militant group, officials said on Friday. Olmert had been poised to announce tougher restrictions on the Palestinians, including a travel ban and a freeze on funding, ahead of Saturday's swearing-in of a Hamas-led parliament. But Israeli government sources said Olmert deferred a decision until Sunday's cabinet meeting after disagreements between some of his top advisers. Olmert was also urged by the European Union to delay an announcement, a diplomatic source said. Under the plan proposed by the Israeli Defence Ministry, Palestinians would be barred from working in Israel or travelling across Israel between Gaza and the West Bank after a Hamas-led parliament is sworn in on Saturday. Posted by: Fred 2006-02-18 |
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