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Palestinian negotiatior Ahmed Qureia (Kobi Gideon / BauBau) Last update - 00:15 02/03/2008 PA suspends peace talks with Israel over Gaza violence By Haaretz Staff and Agencies Tags: Israel, Gaza, Qassams, Hamas The Palestinian Authority leadership in the West Bank on Saturday announced it was halting peace talks with Israel over Israel Defense Forces raids in the Gaza Strip, in which two IDF soldiers and at least 61 Palestinians were killed over the course of the day. Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia notified Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni of the decision on Saturday evening. Earlier, Livni had vowed that the IDF would continue to operate against militants in Gaza, despite the PA's threats to suspend negotiations. Advertisement "Even if the Palestinians suspend talks, it won't influence in any way the decisions or operations Israel carries out to defend its citizens," she said, adding "From the beginning this was the basis of talks with the moderate elements in the Palestinian Authority." Abbas called on Saturday for the United Nations Security Council to hold urgent discussions on the latest round of fighting in the Gaza Strip. "The president has asked for an urgent session of the Security Council," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeinah said in a statement, adding that Abbas had already contacted Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on this issue. Hazem Abu Shanab, a senior member of the Fatah faction in Gaza, called the IDF incursion a "real massacre against all of us." In Jerusalem, Foreign Ministry officials were meeting to discuss the violence in Gaza and its implications for the talks. Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said as far as Israel was concerned, "talks are based on the understanding that when advancing the peace process with pragmatic [Palestinian] sources, Israel will continue to fight terror that hurts its people." Abbas, who remains hostile to Hamas in particular since the group's violent takeover of Gaza last June, called Israel's threats and preparations to target the Strip "dangerous." Jordan and Egypt condemn IDF action In a telephone call with Abbas later Saturday, Jordan's King Abdullah II condemned the the Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip, according to the official Petra news agency and described them as violating all the international conventions. The Foreign Ministry of Egypt, which along with Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel, also condemned the Israeli military actions. "It is regretful that Israel carries out these operations without calculating the consequences on the adopted peace efforts," the statement said. Another statement issued by Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Mahdi Akef condemned the Israeli military actions. "I will quote the Israeli defense minister as describing it as a Holocaust," it said. The Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group also described the attacks as a Holocaust which it said was taking place with "blatant Arab complacency and Western weapons and financing and comprehensive American protection of the Israeli butcher." Hamas officials had earlier Saturday condemned what they called "international silence" over the IDF operations in Gaza, saying the lack of response included no reaction from members of the Arab world. Foreign leaders call for restraint The Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair on Friday called on Jerusalem to avoid harming innocent Palestinians when combating rocket fire, while also issuing a harsh condemnation of Gaza militants' Qassam attacks on Israel. "The loss of civilian life including children is absolutely tragic. The rocket attacks which resulted in the death of an innocent Israeli and injuries to many more must cease, and are utterly to be condemned," said Blair in a statement. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit called Friday on both sides to "exercise restraint and refrain from acts that lead to the military confrontation continuing." Abul Gheit said the IDF's "military operations against the Palestinians in Gaza are an excessive use of force." The United States has urged Israel to "consider the consequences" of any action ahead of next week's visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rice's visit is aimed at prodding Israel and moderate Palestinians forward in their bid to reach a peace accord by the end of the year. The two sides declared that goal at the U.S.-sponsored conference in Annapolis, Maryland in November. Senior European diplomat Javier Solana will also visit the region beginning Sunday, to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to keep the peace process on track, his office said in a statement. Related articles: 2 IDF soldiers, 61 Palestinians die in Gaza clashes 5 hurt in Ashkelon as 50 rockets hit southern Israel ANALYSIS / Gaza raids met by loud silence from the Arab world Meshal: Gaza is 'real holocaust,' armed resistance only option Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   "Peace Process" - Absolutely Orwellian 19:52  |  Tod Zuckerman 01/03/08   2.   Israelis,you should continue enduring Qassams,lest Rice would get 19:58  |  Absolute Sweden 01/03/08   3.   What peace talks? 20:02  |  Michael 01/03/08   4.   PIECE VS PEACE 20:16  |  JOHN ISH ISHMAEL 01/03/08   5.   GOOD MOVE , 20:19  |  BOB KING THE ZIONIST 01/03/08   6.   HAMAS SUCCEEDS IN ITS GOAL RE PEACE TALKS 20:23  |  Brad 01/03/08   7.   so what ? 20:23  |  whizbang 01/03/08   8.   Palestinian crybabies 20:45  |  fiona 01/03/08   9.   The failure of the Oslo agreement. 20:45  |  Jean Van Daem 01/03/08   10.   It`s about time! 20:45  |  Daniel 01/03/08   11.   Gaza needs to feel the consequences of Hamas` actions 20:52  |  Daniel 01/03/08   12.   why talk to israel? 20:58  |  joe 01/03/08   13.   Which peace talks? 21:08  |  Dutch Dirk 01/03/08   14.   Proportional Response 21:19  |  Mike 01/03/08   15.   Firing 8000 missiles at sderot is not defined as peace 21:20  |  jed 01/03/08   16.   #4 21:46  |  Faris 01/03/08   17.   the UN is PALs mommy 21:49  |  vik 01/03/08   18.   Joe #8,you are right 21:53  |  fiona 01/03/08   19.   The same Arabs that supported Saddam`s holocaust against Kurds 21:54  |  Ken Jurist 01/03/08   20.   Joe... 22:06  |  T.OJEW 01/03/08   21.   Israel cant make peace with terrorists 22:07  |  Leah 01/03/08   22.   Faris -- you crying over dead terrorists? 22:09  |  vik 01/03/08   23.   Fiona 22:11  |  Your LovingLeprichon 01/03/08   24.   Jean Van Daem 22:16  |  Jimmie 01/03/08   25.   # 9 22:18  |  Jon 01/03/08   26.   Faris #9 22:28  |  Avi Yerushalmi 01/03/08   27.   Name a Country... 22:31  |  guy 01/03/08   28.   How about suspending Kassam attacks? 22:34  |  Mladen Andrijasevic 01/03/08   29.   What peace talk to suspend? 22:34  |  El-Birawi 01/03/08   30.   Faris 22:41  |  Yaakov 01/03/08   31.   True Colours...... 22:55  |  Dolly 01/03/08   32.   What else can Abbas do? 22:55  |  Mark Lincoln 01/03/08   33.   The one rocks the tree. The other picks up the fruit 22:57  |  KUTW 01/03/08   34.   The pathetic PALs and associates. 23:07  |  Charles Smyth 01/03/08   35.   #9 Faris 23:23  |  fiona 01/03/08   36.   WHO CARES 23:32  |  ARNIE 01/03/08   37.   ISRAEL HAS CONNITTED A CARDINAL SIN IN MUSLIM EYES.... 23:33  |  Ian 01/03/08   38.   Virtual reality 23:35  |  Andras Bereny 01/03/08   39.   Hamas 23:53  |  alan 01/03/08   40.   Why didn`t they suspend talks when Kassams started flying? 23:56  |  bernard ross 01/03/08   41.   Killing of civilians is a crime 23:57  |  Nemomil 01/03/08   42.   Good move, there`s nothing to talk about. 23:57  |  Wise Saba 01/03/08   43.   but for the last 5 years Israel continued talking 00:04  |  eddie 02/03/08   44.   Jean Van Daem- has hit one of the nails on the head 00:04  |  Avrum 02/03/08   45.   If this is intended to be a joke... 00:11  |  Gazan 02/03/08   46.   peace treaty talks 00:15  |  mike fisette 02/03/08   47.   condemnation 00:22  |  jojo 02/03/08   48.   Good! Now let`s get real! 00:25  |  Steve 02/03/08   49.   as predicted --Israel has managed to scupper the 00:26  |  Labhras 02/03/08   50.   SAME OLD YOU KNOW WHAT 00:31  |  Brant 02/03/08   51.   suspended surrender terms 00:31  |  chaim 02/03/08   52.   No more peace talks 01:16  |  ChanahS 02/03/08   53.   Self Defence (A Inalienable, Universal Right) 02:07  |  Brad 02/03/08   54.   Abbas: who do you think suffers by suspending talks? 02:08  |  Conroy 02/03/08   55.   as predicted --Palestinians have managed to ... 02:15  |  Joe Sittizen 02/03/08   56.   now they have to take their thumbs out of their behinds 02:27  |  jewish doctor 02/03/08   57.   Peace talks are a sham anyways 02:56  |  Sam 02/03/08   58.   counter-attack/self defense is called massacre and aggression ... 03:40  |  Elie 02/03/08   59.   moderate elements??? 04:15  |  johnson 02/03/08   60.   suspension of peace 04:50  |  marcel 02/03/08   61.   Condoleezza Rice - - Stay Home! 05:13  |  Johnny Weintraub 02/03/08   62.   When taking too long to kill enemy it wins 05:23  |  George Lechter 02/03/08   63.   Brad - and the problem is 05:35  |  Mark Lincoln 02/03/08   64.   There is a great sigh of relief 05:36  |  Mark Lincoln 02/03/08   65.   Peace Talks??? 10:04  |  Barney Panofsky 02/03/08   66.   suspension 12:29  |  colin 02/03/08   67.   Rice should hold meetings in Sderot 13:58  |  * BEN JABO 02/03/08

Today Online 10 Gazans killed, Israeli wounded in ongoing violence Responses: 153 EU joins UN in slamming use of 'disproportionate' force in Gaza Responses: 271 Barak to Justice Min.: Can IDF legally hit civilian areas used to fire rockets? Responses: 108 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Responses: 98 Harel and Issacharoff: Hamas will now try to avenge Gaza deaths Responses: 68 Rosner's Domain Battle of Ohio: Will Tzipi meet Hillary? No "statement of interest" against terror victims (WTR) McCain, Obama gear up for face off over Iraq Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Prosecutor in AIPAC case to leave before trial? (WTR) More Headlines 18:07 10 Gazans killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing Gaza op 18:04 Israeli lightly hurt as 21 rockets slam in western Negev 17:01 Barak to Justice Min.: Can IDF legally hit civilian areas used to fire rockets? 17:26 Hebron teen dies, 3 Israelis hurt as violence spreads to W. Bank 15:47 EU joins UN in slamming use of 'disproportionate' force in Gaza 17:41 Expats' kids in IDF: 'If I don't help defend my home then who will?' 15:17 Hillary Clinton comes out swinging as Ohio primary nears 15:39 Tel Aviv Stock Exchange slumps amid violence in south 14:12 Saudi Arabia compares IDF Gaza operation to Nazi war crimes 13:59 Ahmadinejad in Iraq: First-ever visit opens new chapter in ties 10:35 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Previous Editions Select Day 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb

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