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Israel-Palestine

'Up to Israel to End Violence'

2005-03-12

In a massive show of strength, thousands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists rallied in the Gaza Strip yesterday, sending a message to Israel that only it could bring a halt to anti-Israeli attacks. The head of Hamas in Gaza City, Mahmoud Al-Zahar, told reporters the "cooling down period" currently being respected by Hamas and other Palestinian factions could only "continue indefinitely if Israel offers concessions".

"No one is optimistic about continuing this cooling down period indefinitely. Israel must offer something in return otherwise the resistance will continue," Zahar said. More than 7,000 Hamas supporters took part in the rally marking the first anniversary of Israel's assassination of Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. The gathering was held in an empty lot near Yassin's home. Zahar said Hamas would decide in "the coming days" whether it would sign on to a cease-fire due to be discussed at inter-Palestinian talks on March 15 in Cairo. "It will depend on what our Egyptian brothers get from Israel" in exchange for a truce, he said.

Earlier, some 1,500 armed members of Islamic Jihad took part in a demonstration in the streets of Gaza City. Their faces covered by black balaclavas, the demonstrators raised their Kalashnikov rifles in the air as they marched after Friday prayers, burning Israeli and US flags and effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and US President George W. Bush. The activists also brandished a large banner made up of the Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian flags. "This march is a message saying yes to the intifada and yes to the resistance," said a political leader of Islamic Jihad, Mohammed Al-Hindi. Hindi said he expected the talks in Cairo to be "successful", but stressed that a cease-fire with Israel would not come "for free".

Posted by:Fred

#5 The thought occurs that Jordan cannot be thrilled with the idea of a Palestinian state on the West Bank. Rather than giving these armed disturbed children a state, the Israelis should say, "Egypt, the Gaza Strip is yours. Fix it. Jordan, you get the West Bank, control it. Further attacks from either place will be considered acts of war by Egypt and Jordan."

Posted by: RWV 2005-03-12 12:38:19 PM

#4 cause/effect not a principle in the Paleo univers. Fuck them. When they decide to join the civilized world I'll start mourning their lost opportunities. Until then, pass the popcorn

Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-12 11:11:52 AM

#3 if Israel offers concessions

Guess the Paleos still don't have that responsibility concept down yet. They will, only when they get thumped, and thumped hard.

Posted by: Raj 2005-03-12 10:39:09 AM

#2 The idea of peace, road maps, and whatever isn't going to work. Finish the wall, complete the pullout, then use overwhelming force to deal with incursions and attacks. This negotiation nonsense has gone on long enough.

Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-12 1:23:40 AM

#1 t alternative to signing on is your death Mahmoud. It's pretty plain Israel has nothing else it can or will offer other than leaving the Gaza Strip. You can STFU and submit to the PA and knock your crap off or die. Gatherings like this of people who have sworn to never stop attacking Israel until it's destroyed and every last Jew is dead do not build confidence. The only people who are hopeful that Hamas and IJ will lay down their arms and submit to the authority are are foolish EUropeans.

Follow the money. The trail ends in Iran.

Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-03-12 12:49:38 AM

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