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U.S. President George W. Bush at the United Nations on Tuesday. (Reuters)
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Hamas urges Saudis not to go to U.S.-led Mideast conference
By The Associated Press

Hamas on Tuesday called on Saudi Arabia and other nations not to attend the upcoming U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference, the first time it has appealed directly to Arab states to stay away.

The Islamic militant group also warned Arab countries against offering concessions to Israel. Hamas has spoken out consistently against the conference, called by U.S. President George W. Bush to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Hamas has said any decisions made there would not be binding.

Hamas overran Gaza in June. Moderate Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led government after the takeover, naming a new cabinet that runs the West Bank.

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Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have been meeting to work out proposals for the conference, set tentatively for November, despite Hamas objections.

In a statement Tuesday, Hamas said it fears the conference would be a way for Arabs to establish relations with Israel. Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan maintain full diplomatic ties with Israel.

Hamas warns against the fall meeting becoming a "new door for capitulation to be offered by the negotiators, and a door to (Arab) normalization," the statement said. "We urge our Arab brothers not to go down this dark tunnel, and we appeal especially to Saudi Arabia not to participate in this conference."

Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have said they would attend only if concrete results are achieved. Saudi Arabia brokered the unity deal between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah that ended with the violent ousting of Fatah forces from Gaza in June.

Bush tells Abbas statehood for Palestinians is in reach
Bush met Monday with Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayad in New York, and promised that the United States would be a strong partner in establishing an independent state for Palestinians.

"I believe that the vision of two states side by side in peace is achievable," Bush told reporters during a joint press conference with Abbas after the hour-long meeting.

Bush did not, however, make any mention of the upcoming U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference. It is still unclear which states will be invited to the conference, as well as which issues will be dealt with.

But Abbas said the meeting should be the precursor to full negotiations on the permanent status. "We have faith and trust," Abbas said, emphasizing a hopeful tone.

A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to more freely discuss the president's private talks, said there will not be negotiations at the November meeting.

The three leaders were in News York for the annual UN General Assembly conference.

Bush held talks with Abbas and Fayad, and then a separate one-on-one session alone with Abbas, with the aim of preparing for the peace conference by bolstering the two moderate leaders.

"I appreciate the fact that you're fighting the extremists who don't share the same kind of view," Bush told Abbas, referring to Hamas.

Abbas said it was critical that the American president maintain current high levels of support for his government, the senior White House official said.

Blair: Mideast conference is a stepping stone to peace accord
An upcoming Mideast conference in the U.S. should serve as a stepping stone toward a peace accord between Israelis and Palestinians, international envoy Tony Blair told an Israeli TV station Monday.

Blair's interview with Channel 2 was his first with local media since he became Mideast envoy for the Quartet, the international coalition of Mideast mediators made up of the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, in July.

The former British prime minister said he hoped to help build a strong, moderate Palestinian government able to exercise law and order. The key question for Palestinians, Blair said, is whether moderates who want the right vision for Palestine - and want it to live side by side in peace with Israel - are able to take charge.

"What I can say is that the next few months will decide whether the will is there to do that," Blair said.

"I think what is important about the November meeting is that it... gives us a stepping stone for a future agreement," Blair said. At the meeting, he said, it needs to be clear that there is sufficient common ground and that, with time, it will be possible to reach an agreement.

Asked if Israel should negotiate with Hamas, Blair said he didn't think that was either possible or sensible.

"I think Israel should be prepared to negotiate with Palestinians who want peace," Blair said. "But if people don't want peace, it's difficult to negotiate with them."
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Pins in our balloon
The connection between Ecclesiastes and the Sukkot festival is not so obvious.
  1.   Blair is not Even Handed 05:44  |  ralphsrant1 25/09/07
  2.   Can the expectations drop any lower? 06:15  |  Natallie Durson 25/09/07
  3.   Start with peace between the Palestinians 07:02  |  JW 25/09/07
  4.   #2 - so one sided it made me laugh !! 07:52  |  redmike 25/09/07
  5.   # 3 The echo of ignorant laughter 08:42  |  Natallie Durson 25/09/07
  6.   Palestinian first must make peace with themself 08:54  |  e.m 25/09/07
  7.   HE SAID SHARON WAS "THE MAN OF PEACE" TOO 09:27  |  indrajaya 25/09/07
  8.   so one sided it made me laugh 09:51  |  iqrar 25/09/07
  9.   a state lead by israelis agents 09:51  |  kad 25/09/07
  10.   But what sort of Palestinian State, George? 09:54  |  Clickfool 25/09/07
  11.   you said it, redmike 10:05  |  Theodor 25/09/07
  12.   If Israel doesnt fight war, why should Muslims want peace? 10:16  |  GI Joe 25/09/07
  13.   even handed 10:39  |  pause 25/09/07
  14.   Finally western leaders are learning to speak Middle eastern 10:41  |  Judith, Haifa 25/09/07
  15.   Why is Abbas participating in this vicious PR joke 10:58  |  www.kibush.co.il 25/09/07
  16.   BS talk from Washington! Israel has to show... 11:24  |  Dutch Dirk 25/09/07
  17.   Bush to Abbas: Statehood for Palestinians in reach 11:33  |  Colin Wright 25/09/07
  18.   Pearls before Swine 11:39  |  Natallie Durson 25/09/07
  19.   bush is following clinton into a last stand 11:50  |  victor hardman 25/09/07
  20.   THE BAD, THE FOOL AND THE UGLY 12:04  |  TrippleJump 25/09/07
  21.   OH, I AM SO IMPRESSED! 12:11  |  indrajaya 25/09/07
  22.   Redmike and Theodor 12:15  |  Natallie Durson 25/09/07
  23.   Abbas the toothless 12:15  |  Nora 25/09/07
  24.   A black hole for posting 12:16  |  Clickfool 25/09/07
  25.   Statehood Fallacy 12:28  |  Brod 25/09/07
  26.   Divide Jerusalem NOW!! 12:36  |  Clint 25/09/07
  27.   bush Said What? 12:52  |  Mary 25/09/07
  28.   First give independence to Gaza 12:56  |  arun 25/09/07
  29.   blair .... lame poodle 12:59  |  ravi 25/09/07
  30.   More lies from Bush 13:04  |  spyguy 25/09/07
  31.   The flies are buzzing round the honeypot of Palestine`s 13:11  |  lakshmi 25/09/07
  32.   Liar! 13:19  |  Paulo 25/09/07
  33.   Interest 13:26  |  KJ 25/09/07
  34.   even handed and bigotism 13:41  |  pause 25/09/07
  35.   The old man never even bother to answer. 13:46  |  Akram Zekaria 25/09/07
  36.   statehood for pals 13:59  |  iletzter 25/09/07
  37.   misinformed moron 16:41  |  mr t 25/09/07
  38.   PALESTINE 17:12  |  RAINBOW7WARRIOR 25/09/07
  39.   Myanmar/Burma will be the case.. 17:41  |  Kris 25/09/07
  40.   # 11 Natallie Durson is one 17:50  |  Kris 25/09/07
  41.   ISRAEL IS G-DS LAND!!!!!!!!!!!! 17:51  |  THE PROPHET 25/09/07
  42.   The mean natallie Durson posts are fake 17:54  |  Natallie Durson 25/09/07
  43.   Bush complicity with Israel has added to its criticism 18:04  |  Dutch 25/09/07
  44.   Please correct the title 18:08  |  Mark 25/09/07
  45.   Hamas Has Illegaly Hijacked Gaza 18:10  |  Da Calif 25/09/07
  46.   1 Ralph - Ruling Out the USA? 18:38  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/09/07
  47.   # 2 Yep, Fatmah. the time could be spent more productively... 18:44  |  Misha 25/09/07
  48.   Palestinian State and Peace 19:56  |  Gary 25/09/07
  49.   Palestinian Homeland 20:00  |  Gary 25/09/07
  50.   no way we will give up our holy land !!! 20:43  |  alon frank 25/09/07
  51.   The world you live in #2. 21:44  |  Paul 25/09/07
  52.   Why there can never be any separate Arab political entity west of 22:37  |  Uzi 25/09/07
  53.   Israel IS CHRISTIAN LAND 22:44  |  The PROFIT $$$ 25/09/07
  54.   Natallie #42 etc..... 23:05  |  Esther 25/09/07
  55.   #43doris proposes to emigrate due to the 00:04  |  victor hardman 26/09/07
  56.   "For I will gather all nations..... 04:53  |  maria 26/09/07
  57.   the houses of jacob and esau.... 04:58  |  maria 26/09/07
  58.   the houses of jacob[jews]and esau[palestinians] 05:10  |  maria 26/09/07
  59.   #5 if that`s true.... 05:17  |  maria 26/09/07
  60.   No peace in our time, Abbas lost his chance 05:23  |  Voice of Reason 26/09/07
  61.   Calling all lands Arabic is out of control 18:44  |  Paul 26/09/07
  62.   #2 - Shouting Bush? 01:24  |  Bretware 27/09/07
  63.   No! They share like convictions 19:43  |  Paul 29/09/07
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