Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 05, 2007 Cheshvan 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader in Gaza and prime minister in the government dismissed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, listens to Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar on Monday. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 14:08 03/11/2007 Palestinian central bank chief resigns citing 'personal reasons' By Haaretz Service and News Agencies tags: Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas  The head of the Palestinian Authority's central bank has tendered his resignation to Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, an aide said on Saturday. The aide, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Abbas was likely to accept George Abed's request to step down as governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority (PMA) due to his "personal circumstances". Several PMA sources confirmed that Abed, a former senior official at the International Monetary Fund, has told staff he was resigning after two and-a-half years in the post. Advertisement Private banking sources said they believed that personal rather than policy reasons were the main motivation for the governor leaving. There was no immediate word on a successor. The aide to Abbas said: "Dr. George Abed has informed the president of his resignation. So far, there has been no official response from the president." He described the departure of Abed, who is credited with substantial reforms of the PMA, as a loss to the Palestinian people but believed the president would accept the request. Western officials have credited the PMA with reforming the banking system and implementing international rules, including pressuring Palestinian banks to sever ties with militant groups. The institution is mandated to manage a Palestinian currency once a state is established. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza now use Israeli shekels, U.S. dollars and Jordanian dinars. Hamas in Gaza said to downplay Abbas meet with top Hamas men Hamas' Gaza Strip spokesman Friday called a meeting earlier in the day between Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and senior West Bank Hamas officials meaningless, due to Abbas' refusal to negotiate with Hamas and his ongoing talks with Israel, Israel Radio reported. According to the radio, Sami Abu-Zuheri added that Hamas' leadership in the Gaza Strip was aware of the meeting in advance. Abbas met Hamas officials in the West Bank on Friday, but reiterated he would not hold formal reconciliation talks with the Islamist group unless it gives up control of Gaza. Hamas forces routed Abbas's secular Fatah faction in violent clashes in Gaza in June. Abbas then sacked a Hamas-led government and appointed a Fatah-backed administration in the West Bank. "I met with Hamas officials and told them there would be no dialogue with Hamas until they reverse their coup first," Abbas told Reuters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Abbas said he met Hamas lawmaker Hussein Abu Kwaik and a Hamas-backed former government minister, Naser el-Deen al-Shaer. Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said two other Hamas members were also present at the meeting at Abbas's presidential compound in Ramallah. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters in Gaza Abbas had invited the group to his compound for prayers, but said the meeting was not linked to dialogue between Hamas and Fatah. "The prayers in the Muqata came after an invitation by Abbas to some Islamist figures, including some Hamas officials. It was not linked to any kind of dialogue between Hamas and Fatah." Last month Hamas said it was ready to hold reconciliation talks with Fatah and hinted it might be ready to give up control of the Gaza Strip. But Fatah ruled out talks unless Hamas first cedes control of the coastal territory. Jerusalem has warned that dialogue between Fatah and Hamas could torpedo a peace deal with Israel, which Palestinians hope will lead to statehood Bookmark to del.icio.us Academic freedom The High Court has challenged strict IDF criteria for the entry of Palestinian students. Rapping rabbi British Jewish rapper MC Rebbe is a finalist in the world's largest blog competition.   1.   How to grovel without bending 14:49  |  Mark Lincoln 02/11/07   2.   Hamas quits Gaza for Ramallah 15:08  |  Nora 02/11/07   3.   Israel should learn from him,no talks until terror stops 15:22  |  Absolute Sweden 02/11/07   4.   Even Abbas knows to how play hard ball 15:36  |  Dennis 02/11/07   5.   Abbas should tell Israel the same:Quit the West Bank 17:34  |  Ahmad 02/11/07   6.   "palestinian" is NOT a nationality 18:18  |  ben Ish 02/11/07   7.   talking without talking 19:19  |  vik 02/11/07   8.   Abbas weak, needs Hamas cuz Israel won`t offer a real peace 19:29  |  0 degrees 02/11/07   9.   6 / Philistines Lived in Palestine Before Jewish Tribes Immigrate 19:35  |  0 degrees 02/11/07   10.   The separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, it must 19:52  |  Rami 02/11/07   11.   #3 - they are one body with lots of heads ! 20:02  |  redmike 02/11/07   12.   #9 - the Philistines and Palestinians are not related in any way 20:04  |  redmike 02/11/07   13.   To ben ish # 6 - Indeed you are learning `palestinian` is n 20:04  |  Dolly 02/11/07   14.   To ben ish - You are right...... 20:12  |  Sandy 02/11/07   15.   13/Dolly when do the victims have accept the rights of crimanls 21:22  |  0 degrees 02/11/07   16.   to #14 state is not the reason 21:37  |  ben Ish 02/11/07   17.   for the believers what is palestine? 21:54  |  ahmed 02/11/07   18.   And the dance goes on 22:22  |  Mark Lincoln 02/11/07   19.   12Redmike&O Degrees,the Old Testament speaks of many ancient 22:47  |  lakshmi 02/11/07   20.   To Ben Ish ""Israeli" is NOT a nationality 23:22  |  Daniello 02/11/07   21.   lakshmi # 19 - What Rubbish! 00:19  |  Dagma 03/11/07   22.   To 0 degrees 00:19  |  Shlomo 03/11/07   23.   Daniello # 20 - WRONG! Israel is a State 00:38  |  Dolly 03/11/07   24.   O degrees # 22 - Just a little information for what its worth 02:21  |  Dolly 03/11/07   25.   thanks Shlomo and Dolly 02:48  |  0 degrees 03/11/07   26.   To # 24 04:13  |  Shlomo 03/11/07   27.   mysterious palestinians..... 04:27  |  nmf 03/11/07   28.   #21Dagma. The Black skinned people. 09:37  |  Maureen Ann 03/11/07   29.   nr 9: 0 degrees 11:02  |  Serge 03/11/07   30.   m aureen ann and ozzie mirages after too many 4xxss 11:34  |  victor hardman 03/11/07   31.   To nmf - # 27 `The Mysterious Palestinians` 12:51  |  Dagma 03/11/07   32.   To Maureen Ann - The Original Jew..... 13:24  |  Dagma 03/11/07   33.   To nmf # 31 - Furthermore, the Palestinians 14:12  |  Dagma 03/11/07   34.   maureen ann ....don`t google .....re. dagma 14:53  |  maria 03/11/07   35.   #25 0 (of something?) Thank you for your admission.. 15:23  |  Haham me Bat Yam 03/11/07   36.   #27They are Egyptian as much as Ashkenazi Jews 17:34  |  European 03/11/07   37.   Dagma..why should these native people of Palestine 17:37  |  Dany 03/11/07   38.   #36 european and another mythology 17:58  |  victor hardman 03/11/07   39.   No Palestinians? 20:16  |  Canderra 03/11/07   40.   Dagma #31 20:46  |  Canderra 03/11/07   41.   to 9: Get off my land 21:21  |  Seminole descendant 03/11/07   42.   Whatever the Jews look like 22:45  |  Blondie 03/11/07   43.   MAUREN AN, MAUREN AN, MAUREN AN, Where are you my dear? 05:57  |  Jalal Shahid 04/11/07   44.   No Arab suddenly leaves a Milk Cow. Personal reasons? Sure!!!!!!! 06:02  |  Genuine Tosefta 04/11/07   45.   THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A COUNTRY CALLED PALESTINE 04:22  |  F.Antasy 05/11/07

Today Online Court challenges criteria for Palestinian student entry to Israel Responses: 128 Turkey seeks right to build monument in Jerusalem's Old City Responses: 159 IAF strikes kill four Palestinians after Qassams hit Negev Responses: 257 Leftists scuffle with supporters of Rabin's assassin outside jail Responses: 127 Olmert: Core issues are on the agenda for Annapolis summit Responses: 223 Rosner's Domain * NY's Bloomberg: No rational case for bombing Iran * Rosner's new Guest: Women's perspective on the Torah * The genes that make Jews smart (What To Read) * AIPAC trial: Bring on the top government officials More Headlines 03:14 PM to free more Palestinian prisoners ahead of summit 02:11 Military Advocate General to ask for freeze of Winograd report 05:15 Israeli Arabs get rare chance to see legendary singer Fairuz 02:00 Beitar J'lem soccer fans boo Rabin before draw with Maccabi Haifa 03:58 Foreign Ministry to receive raw military intelligence reports 05:45 Study: Dry winter days mean more urban air pollution 03:45 Israeli businessmen to demolish oldest hotel on Vegas Strip 02:48 ANALYSIS: Winograd report to expose system failures, nothing personal 04:08 Official: Telling family Dawit's body was found might have risked deal 02:03 'Rapping rabbi' makes finals in world's largest blog competition Previous Editions Select Day 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct 25 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct

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