Abbas mulls ways to limit Hamas participation in PA elections

its government will ever agree for any relationships between Israel and the PA government if un-reformed Hamas is part of this government. All that Hamas needs to do, and has refused to do so, is: Recongize in principle Israel's right to exist; adhere to all negotiated and signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian leadership; and, cease all acts of terror and violence against Israel and Israelis and all preparation for such acts. Hamas, if it wanted to adhere to these core components of normal international relationships could do it tomorrow, but has refused to do so since January 2006! This by itself says it all about this gang of thugs and mass murder of civilians. We, Israelis, will not deal with this gang or with a Palestinian government part of which is this un-reformed gang.

"Abbas mulls ways to limit Hamas participation in PA elections" - Reuters He has to limit Hamas participation. If there were honest elections, he will lose and Hamas will win.

Yes, good idea about the Name Election...only ending in Abbas. He'd forget his own name, though, and lose...As for Bush, he's very nearly done everything you describe in your post, and he's still there, worst luck. And talking about attacking Iran, judging from tonight's news analysis programmes.

I agree with you. Abbas has a forked tongue - a real snake in the grass! He is fooling himself - if he has to think of ways to prevent Hamas from participating in the elections, it doesn't say much for his 'preferred leadership.' Abbas doesn't care for the prosperity of the Palestinian people... what did he do to prevent Arafat's corruption? Arafat and his cronies lined their pockets while the people suffered lack of schools, health care and infrastructure, but such complicity to Arafat's corruption saved Israel having to raze any evidence of Palestinian permanence!! Kind regards.

how about abbas make a law that only those who's name end in abbas may run for office? i bet he would still lose that election. anyway, lets say he bans hamas from running. why in the world would hamas recognize the results?? abbas wont talk to hamas, he wont attack hamas, he blabs at israel whenever IDF kills members of hamas and other terrorists. wonder what the world would say if Bush disolved congress and starting enacting new laws on his own and then ban any dems from running for election by limiting those who can run to people who voted for him in the last election. how would that work for everyone? abbas the powerless dictator.

What a JACKASS. With Hamas' poll ratings so low, what is Abbas afraid of? And even worse, what is that JACKASS BUSH doing supporting such a man. Guess it "takes on to know one".

"He has no authority over his balls!" That has got to be the very best phrase I've read in several days; hope you don't mind it I borrow it for future use?! Regards

Abbas has a funny view of democracy. To limit the participation of the winner of the last elections is hardly democratic. But not limiting the participation of a corrupt unpopular party doesn't certainly not make the Pals situation better. On the other hand Israel has extreme religious parties. Maybe Olmert should consult Abbas' experts how to limiting those parties possibilities in the next elections.

evident that you are not au courrant with any of the developments.Did you hear of the takeover in Gaza by Hamas which preempted the bloody coup that the Dahlan thugs were preparing for Hamas(aided & abetted by the u.s.-israel cabal)?Hamas is doing very well in Gaza having cleaned out the garbage& introduced law & order.Visitors have so testified and this despite the siege of gaza by the cabal(like the siege of Leningrad by the nazis!).Israel has to make nice now with Hamas,because there is no game without Hamas in the game.Read 'Getting Hamas Strategy Right' in IPF Focus,Aug.9,2007.It details the people who want israel to talk to Hamas,from the British Foreign Office to Russia to . . . (even a former Mossad chief!).Don't worry about 2000 years.As the economist J.M.Keynes put it when asked about long term plans:"In the long run we are all dead !"

i suggest you keep your mouth shut. and please keep waiting to get your home back. maybe in 2000 years from now...

Mr Abbas is making a joke of himself. He should resign and leave with some dignity (if he has any dignity). He has no majority between his people and he is behaving like a dictator. He has no authority over his balls! Hamas controls Gaza and Israel controls the West Bank. He should resign now. period.

project in jericho,abbas hypocritically said that the rift with Hamas would be temporary. He seems to be talking from every side of his mouth possible,and there is reason to believe this is more of the same.Neither legally,nor practically can there be elections without Hamas in the game.As for Hamas accepting the failed PLO agreements that is not going to happen.They will agree only to the Arab Initiative and that means withdrawal from ALL occupied territory.There are 3 options for Hamas:1.Armed struggle as with the ANC in SA,2.non violent civil disobedience as in India(won't work with israel.Gandhi once asked Martin Buber why jews did not use non violent struggle against Hitler.Buber replied,it would not have worked with Hitler.Same thing here).3.Negotiated settement(Arab Initiative).Hamas favours 3 but they also trust in God & keep their powder dry.No self respecting Liberation movement would do otherwise.

First, the so-called Palestinian law is vague and incomplete because of the nonexistence of statehood. Second, PA and PLO agreements with Israel are also vague and interpreted paradoxically by both Israel and Abbas. So, if Abbas interprets the agreements to mean return of the five million refugees to their homes in what is now Israel, and total Israeli withdrawal from Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and total eradication of Jewish colonies, then I am sure Hamas will then recognize these laws. So, obviously Abbas and this PA spokesman don't seem to know what they are talking about. I challenge them to give us an agreed-upon interpretation of the Oslo Agreement, for example. However, since they can't, they should keep their mouths shut.

Spend a week each in Chicago and Montreal. Watch how they run their municipal elections. Copy.