US Secretary of State Colin Powell has described the militant Palestinian movement Hamas as an "enemy of peace" that has to be dealt with. However, Hamas says Mr Powell is encouraging an escalation of violence against Palestinians. Mr Powell's visit to the region coincided with more violent attacks.
| But natch. That's the way Paleostinians do welcoming committees... |
An Israeli man was driving through the West Bank near Ramallah when a Palestinian gunman opened fire, causing the car to roll into a ditch. The man died of his wounds, while three others - including two Americans - were injured. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened as US Secretary of State Colin Powell was holding a joint press conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
| "See the way they're killing us poor Paleos? 'T's terrible, just terrible!" |
Mr Powell praised Mr Sharon for being faithful to the so-called roadmap to peace, pointing to Israel's release of Palestinian prisoners and dismantling of an inhabited Jewish outpost. Afterwards, Mr Powell met with the Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen, and urged him to crack down on militant groups such as Hamas. The US Secretary of State says Hamas is an enemy of the roadmap to peace. "As long as they have as an organisational culture, a commitment to terror and violence, I think it's a problem we have to deal with in its entirety."
Hamas spokesman Ismail Abu Shanab has given a defiant response to Mr Powell. "I think Powell is encouraging Sharon to escalate the situation," he said. "He is speaking about obstacles in front of peace and he considers the Palestinian resistance as the obstacle. He is totally mistaken."
| "We a peace-loving bunch. You just don't notice it..." |
Another Hamas spokesman Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi has also reacted angrily to Mr Powell's comments. He has accused the Secretary of State of being selective in his analysis. "He again was lying when he spoke about Hamas as the one who started operations after the al-Aqaba summit and he forgets what Sharon did in Tulkarem on the second day and Gaza."
| "Lies! All lies! We wudn't doin' nuffin'!" |
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