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Israel-Palestine
Hamas leaders, Abu Mazen hold "positive talks" in Gaza
2005-01-21
Hamas spokespersons in the Gaza Strip have described a two-hour Tuesday night's meeting with the newly-elected PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza as "constructive and positive." Taking part in the secret late-night meeting were Hamas leaders Mahmoud al Zahar, Ismael Haniya and Taysir Abu Ras. Palestinian Legislative Council member Ziad Abu Mare also attended the meeting. "The meeting was positive and constructive, both sides reasserted their commitment to safeguarding the supreme Palestinian national interests and Hamas promised to study proposals to calm the situation," said Sami Abu Zuhri.

He said Islamic resistance leaders in Gaza would hold consultations with the movement's abroad-based leaders, including Khalid Mishaal, Hamas's politburo chief. According to sources in Gaza, Hamas leaders told Abu Mazen during the meeting that Hamas wouldn't do anything that undermines Palestinian national interests. The Islamic leaders also told the PA chief that Hamas's military wing, the Izzedin al Qassam Brigades, would be willing to suspend the resistance if and when the Zionists stopped their aggression against Palestinian population centers. Prior to the meeting, Abbas met with the chiefs of PA security agencies in Gaza as well as a number of Fatah leaders. Abbas reportedly ordered them to deploy "security personnel" along the "friction points" between the Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian population centers for the purpose of preventing the launching of Qassam missiles on Zionist targets. Abbas and other Palestinian leaders said any ceasefire in the Gaza Strip would have to be reciprocal.
Posted by:Fred

#7  isn't today Robbie Burns day?
Posted by: 2b   2005-01-21 3:16:19 PM  

#6  A co-worker came in today wearing a black-n-white keffiyeh. I was speechless. He was also wearing a kilt so not sure how serious he is...
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-01-21 3:09:15 PM  

#5  Paleos talk. And promise. And posture. The true indication of a real change would be corroborated evidence that the PA has actually done something that supports either the roadmap or other Israeli/PA understandings -- like disarming terror organizations, stopping an attack on Israel or actually arresting bad guys (and keeping them arrested).
Posted by: PlanetDan   2005-01-21 2:48:29 PM  

#4  Theyre not collecting guns, but they ARE deploying Pal forces to the Gaza border. We have yet to see if they are effective. It seems not unreasonable to force the Hamasniks to actually defy Pal forces at the border, rather than begin to gun collecting raids "unprovoked" - unfortunately lots of the Pal populace, while they got the idea that the rocket attacks hurt THEM, still think of the Hamasniks as legitimate.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2005-01-21 9:41:14 AM  

#3  I didn't read the article to say that they are currently collecting guns, only that they plan to do so. Many plans have been announced over the years; I don't recall any that were actually implemented.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-01-21 8:58:45 AM  

#2  I'm kinda stumped here. With the PA collecting guns, and a good number of the terrorist factions willing to work together, this really consolidates Abbas' power. I'm not naive enough to think that Abbas has the welfare of the Palestinian people in mind here. Nor do I miss the fact that the ceasefire is a house of cards. But a new dynamic is clearly in play.

I'm not sure what's really happening here.
Posted by: 2b   2005-01-21 6:13:49 AM  

#1  hmmmm.....why, it's almost too good to be true.

I see only two possible scenarios - Abbas offered these guys something "worth their while" in the new govt. of Palestine...or something is cooking behind the scenes.

Hey Sharon, if they want to shake your hand, be sure to watch your back.
Posted by: 2b   2005-01-21 6:05:15 AM  

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