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| Middle East |
| Palestinian P.M. Nominee |
| 2003-09-09 |
| EFL RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Nominated to take over as Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qureia said Monday that Israel must comply with its obligations under the ``road map’’ peace plan - or he will face the same impossible situation that felled Mahmoud Abbas. Rats -- he noticed! The parliament speaker, who won By George I think he’s got it! Higgins, the bubbly! ``I don’t want failure,’’ said Qureia (pronounced Sorry, Fred, your previous lesson on "cause and effect" didn’t take. They’re going to need a refresher course. Early Tuesday, Israeli soldiers surrounded an eight-story building in Hebron, evacuating residents, engaging armed Palestinians in a gunfight and firing tank shells at the apartment complex, witnesses said. The soldiers surrounded the building, where the Kawasme family lives, calling on loudspeakers for occupants to leave, Palestinian witnesses said. Four suicide bombers in the past three years of fighting have been members of the Kawasme family. Israel has a policy of demolishing the homes of suicide bombers in the hopes of deterring further attacks. Speak of the devil ... After meeting with Qureia - known as Abu Ala - Arafat told leaders of his Fatah Party and other factions that Qureia had accepted the nomination in principle, said an official who was present at the meeting. ``Arafat told us that Abu Ala has accepted the job in principle, but he is working to get guarantees from the various parties that his mission will succeed,’’ said Qeis Abdelkarim, a member of a PLO faction. But Qureia said he has not given his final answer. ``I’m still studying the issue,’’ he told The Associated Press. If Qureia formally accepts, he must be confirmed by Israel has ignored clauses that require it to freeze construction in Jewish settlements and dismantle settlement outposts established since 2001. It also remains in control of most West Bank towns. Israeli leaders demanded Abbas dismantle militant groups as required by the plan. Abbas refused to use force to do so. The militant groups declared a temporary end to attacks on Israelis in June. But some attacks continued, as did Israeli arrests of militants. After a suicide bombing that killed 22 people in Jerusalem last month and was claimed by the militant group Hamas, the truce fell apart. Did I just read that right, did an AP reporter actually blame Hamas for the collapse of the truce? Israel is now in the midst of a campaign against Hamas militants, killing 12 in recent weeks and slightly injuring the group’s revered founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin. ``I want to see a real cease-fire from both sides with enough commitment to stop all kinds of killing of the Palestinians or killing of the Israelis,’’ Qureia told reporters on Monday. "Although that last part is optional to me!" ``I want to see that the Israelis will change the way of dealing with Yasser Arafat, the elected president, because I cannot go without his support,’’ he said. "Please don’t kill me!" ``We also need the support of the Israelis, the support of the Americans, and the support of President Arafat,’’ he said. So far you’re batting .000, al-Q! |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 The parliament speaker, who won respect in Israel and abroad for his role in peace negotiations a decade ago That would be Oslo, right? Why would anyone involved in that travesty be respected anymore? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-9-9 8:35:24 AM |
| #2 "unless Israel changes its attitude toward Yasser Arafat" I once stepped on dog shit in the park and was pretty pissed about it. Arafat is like stepping in dog shit, you can never change your attitude about it. ...did an AP reporter actually blame Hamas for the collapse of the truce? He still managed to finger Israel though: But some attacks continued, as did Israeli arrests of militants. You could tell he was searching for something bad to say against the Israelis, and all he could come up with was 'arresting militants'. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2003-9-9 7:43:13 AM |
| #1 "Abu Ala" wants a guarantee? Fine. I guarantee that ol' fat & greasy will screw him over just like his predecessor for as long as the game will play, then stab him in the back "for the good of the state" or some such fatuous drivel. He'll need to be precise when he finally shoves the knife in, though - he wouldn't want to stab his own hand... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-9-9 3:56:50 AM |