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Last update - 23:27 04/12/2008
Abbas aide: Settler attacks could scupper peace process
By Haaretz Service and Agencies
Tags: israel news, hebron 

The Palestinian Authority warned Thursday that clashes by Israeli settlers in Hebron and other West Bank areas could end the peace process.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned in a statement the settlers' attacks against Palestinian civilians in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

He held the Israeli government as "directly responsible for this serious escalation," demanding an immediate end to the attacks.
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Abu Rudeineh called on the international community to intervene to stop what he said was a "dangerous aggression." He said the PA "considers this escalation unprecedented," adding that it "bears dangerous ramifications ... which can end the peace process if it continues."

Ahmad Qureia, the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, also condemned the attacks and called on Israeli officials "to immediately declare their condemnation of the barbaric settlers' attacks against our people."

He called on the Israeli government to pull out all the settlers from Hebron "to avoid an explosion that can lead to grave consequences."

He called in a statement for an international protection of the Palestinian people.

Olmert: We'll deal sternly with settlers who attack Palestinians

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday said Israel would not countenance attacks by extremists against Palestinians after Hebron settlers rampaged through the West Bank city.

In a statement late Thursday, Olmert said that violent elements who try to attack Palestinians would face a quick, stern response from security forces.

The settlers' riots came in response to the evacuation by security forces of the so-called "House of Contention" in Hebron that Defense Minister Ehud Barak labeled as a test of Israel's ability to enforce the law.


"What was tested today was the ability of the state to enforce its laws and its essence upon its citizens," said Barak, speaking at a news conference.

"Before we acted, I did what was required from a responsible leadership - I spoke with Rabbis from the West Bank and with members of the Jewish community in Hebron so as to carry out the High Court's decision in order to prevent use of force," Barak continued.


Three weeks ago, the High Court ordered the state to immediately evacuate the building.

The defense minister praised the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet security service and the Border Police for their role in the violently resisted operation in the West Bank city on Thursday afternoon.

He also said the army had to act against "lawless" settler youth.

Earlier Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai denounced Barak's "strange and wretched" decision on Thursday for Israel to evacuate the Hebron home on the same day as the Labor party primaries.

Yishai, who is also the chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, added that he told Barak that he should wait for a court ruling on the evacuation before ordering the security forces to carry it out.

MK Arieh Eldad also lashed out at Barak, saying he was responsible for all those wounded in the lightening-quick raid in Hebron.

"Barak sent the IDF and police as part of the left-wing's election campaign and the blood of the casualties is on his hands," said Eldad (National Religious Party).

The ultranationalist lawmaker was referring to Israel's upcoming general election in February. Barak's Labor party was also holding its primaries on Thursday.

"Only the government will be held responsible for what happens there," he said. "The evacuation of the House of Peace is an act of violent madness that may end in bloodshed."

Other rightists also issued harsh condemnations of the evacuation. Settler leader Daniella Weiss told Channel 10 that, "This is an act of scoundrels, Jews evicting Jews from their homes."

"This could have been done peacefully and legally. Instead Barak chose violence," said Danny Dayan, leader of the Yesha settler council. "This surprised us completely. He threw a match in a pile of gun powder."

Meretz MK Avshalom Vilan, however, countered: "No doubt this came too late but it's better late than never. This was a test for the rule of law and it shows there is one law for everybody for people in Hebron, Tel Aviv and everywhere."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev said: "In Israel, the rule of law prevails and not the rule of the vigilante."


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      1.   Daniella Weiss 16:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/12/08
      2.   Courageous Defense Minister 17:11  |  Ken 04/12/08
      3.   isn`t barak the defence minister of israel? 17:20  |  yahn goodey 04/12/08
      4.   Now will the IDF evict the 100,00 illegal pre-67 Arab houses ? 17:20  |  Joe Citizen 04/12/08
      5.   peacefully and legally 17:25  |  rm 04/12/08
      6.   Democracy and Honour 17:38  |  Joan 04/12/08
      7.   The last nail in Labors coffin. 18:12  |  Norman 04/12/08
      8.   Barak the worst defense Minister in all of Israels history 18:50  |  Judea 04/12/08
      9.   Barak: "Israel`s ability to enforce" 19:19  |  Arie 04/12/08
      10.   Illegal eviction will not save Barak`s sinking party 19:24  |  Realist 04/12/08
      11.   The real test is yet to come... 19:46  |  BBSNews 04/12/08
      12.   Great Job, The Settlers Needed a Lesson 20:07  |  Moshe Cryan 04/12/08
      13.   Israels ability to enforce law . 20:16  |  Joshua 04/12/08
      14.   Barak has got two left feet - it`s so sad 20:36  |  sh 04/12/08
      15.   Bye, bye, Labor. :) 20:47  |  Eitan Levy 04/12/08
      16.   If This Is the Law 20:55  |  Ju Ju 04/12/08
      17.   #8 Realist 20:58  |  Jim 04/12/08
      18.   Israel`s ability to enforce law 21:00  |  Ralph 04/12/08
      19.   Let`s face it 21:02  |  Giora 04/12/08
      20.   Barak is a failure 21:05  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 04/12/08
      21.   I guess I owe 21:36  |  Mark Lincoln 04/12/08
      22.   Cowboys Robbing the Bank 21:46  |  Lenny Intonti 04/12/08
      23.   #3 yahn - territories are under IDF jurisdiction 21:50  |  Pablo B 04/12/08
      24.   let the settlers show their true color... 21:58  |  bashar 04/12/08
      25.   Israel is the Promised Land. All of it. By G-d Almighty. 22:09  |  Alon Chiloni 04/12/08
      26.   Humorous quotes of the day 23:03  |  Matty Groves 04/12/08
      27.   when Mark lincoln and durson support someone 23:11  |  Arie 04/12/08
      28.   The Atalena had to happen - rule of l 23:16  |  Stephen in New York 04/12/08
      29.   A Weak Government flexing its muscles.... 23:26  |  Josephus 04/12/08
      30.   Alon - all of what? 23:32  |  Palestinian Brit 04/12/08
      31.   IDF jurisdiction 23:35  |  Palestinian Brit 04/12/08
      32.   Weiss, the only scoundrals are you and your ilk 23:36  |  Palestinian in UK 04/12/08
      33.   OH SHUT UP!!! 23:39  |  Brant 04/12/08
      34.   re:pablo #20---there are no disputed territiories 00:14  |  yahn goodey 05/12/08
      35.   Can one assume that if settlers fire kassams they`ll be left alon 01:00  |  helm of chelm 05/12/08
      36.   What peace process? 01:09  |  Sam 05/12/08
      37.   Oh, the irony! 01:19  |  SDHD 05/12/08
      38.   # 30 sorry, yahn 01:27  |  Axel 05/12/08
      39.   Settler Violence Will Lead To An Independent Palestine 01:54  |  Doubleclick 05/12/08
      40.   Reading about god is driving me crazy 01:59  |  ACD123 05/12/08
      41.   Could end the "peace process" 02:04  |  Arie 05/12/08
      42.   A hundred thousand terrorist attacks don`t affect the process 02:15  |  Gee 05/12/08
      43.   Hey Bashar, how about 02:20  |  Jess Ghannam 05/12/08
      44.   Who is scuppering what??? 02:30  |  Adrian de Klerk 05/12/08
      45.   Indeed, better to have tried to rescue Shalit. 02:41  |  sandra chitayat 05/12/08
      46.   What Peace Process?????? 04:00  |  Baruch Gold 05/12/08
      47.   What Barak is trying to prove now ! 04:16  |  Akram Zekaria 05/12/08
      48.   barak is real proud of himself;he finally got to order the IDF to 05:01  |  glenna 05/12/08
      49.   Abbas and Peace 06:08  |  DT 05/12/08
      50.   Arabpals terrrorism is not a factor in the Road Map perfidy 07:35  |  Joseph.E 05/12/08
      51.   peace process? 08:07  |  rm 05/12/08
      52.   We should not miss the essental; 09:05  |  Jean Van Daem 05/12/08
      53.   They have NEVER given us peace, what`s the difference. 10:13  |  Harvey 05/12/08
      54.   Arabs Do not Want Peace with Israel They want Pieces of Israel 10:25  |  Baruch Gold 05/12/08
      55.   israels clown prince excels himself 10:47  |  victor hardman 05/12/08
      56.   Why is it... 10:50  |  Michael D. 05/12/08
      57.   glad to see Avshalom Vilan admits Hebron is like Tel-Aviv... 11:17  |  Chaim 05/12/08
      58.   Good 11:43  |  lady from USA 05/12/08
      59.   sandra chitayat 12:05  |  lady from USA 05/12/08
      60.   ACD123 12:12  |  lady from USA 05/12/08
      61.   I get it 12:15  |  lady from USA 05/12/08
      62.   Palestinian in UK 12:19  |  lady from USA 05/12/08
      63.   Ju Ju 12:30  |  lady from USA 05/12/08
      64.   So little confidence! It isn`t a Qassam attack! 12:44  |  lilly 05/12/08
      65.   "Jews evicting Jews" 14:08  |  Murray 05/12/08
      66.   Abbas aide: Settler attacks could scupper peace process 14:49  |  Mark Lincoln 05/12/08
      67.   #56 Lady in USA 15:07  |  H 05/12/08
      68.   how is the word law defined? not by israels courts 17:20  |  victor hardman 05/12/08
      69.   ReaLLY? 20:59  |  SHARON 05/12/08
      70.   ABJECT SILLNESS FROM USUALLY SENSIBLE MARK LINCOLN 23:03  |  Brant 05/12/08
      71.   Israeli settlements in WestBank acts of scoundrels 11:53  |  John 07/12/08
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