 | Shorter headline: Hama Rejects |
A spokesman for Gaza's Hamas rulers said on Sunday that the militant group will oppose any international force in a future Palestine -- adding a new complication to US-brokered peace efforts.
Secretary of State John Kerry is trying to arrange security arrangements between Israel and the Palestinians under a final peace deal.
| And finding out why he'll fail just as every previous Secretary of State has failed there... |
Israel has demanded it retain a security presence in parts of the West Bank after a deal, citing security concerns. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas opposes this, but has said he would accept international peacekeepers.
| Call in the mighty Uruguayans, because it sure isn't going to be American peacekeepers... |
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that Hamas will deal with any international force "in the same manner it uses with Israeli occupation forces."
| The Hamas spokes-terrorist does have the virtue of clarity... |
Also on Sunday, a Palestinian government official in the West Bank said the Palestinian Authority has begun removing details of religious affiliation from ID cards, in an apparent move against discrimination.
Hasan Alawi, the Palestinian deputy interior affairs minister, said that Abbas issued a decision two weeks ago to remove the religion status from the cards. He said the move is in the spirit of Palestinian law. "All citizens are equal regardless if they are Muslims, Christians, black or white," he said.
The step was welcomed by the Palestinians' Christian minority.
| No comment from the Palestinians' Jewish minority... |
"It could help in job promotions, unfortunately there is still some (bigotry) in some areas in the West Bank," said Rand Abdo, 30, from Ramallah. "When I tell them I am Christian, some people get surprised and say, 'You don't look like a Christian,' but should a Christian look any different?" she said.
The move was condemned by the Hamas government in Gaza.
| Like we said at the beginning... |
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