Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting the Gaza naval blockade
The Palestinian president reportedly told Obama that lifting the naval blockade of Gaza would bolster Hamas, a move that shouldn't be done at this stage.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Gaza Mahmoud Abbas Barack ObamaPalestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is opposed to lifting the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip because this would bolster Hamas, according to what he told United States President Barack Obama during their meeting at the White House Wednesday. Egypt also supports this position.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once more put off announcing the creation of a committee of inquiry into the naval commando raid on the Gaza Strip flotilla, and the matter will not be brought before the cabinet for a vote this morning.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. President Barack Obama |
| Photo by: Archive |
Netanyahu and his advisers had hoped to announce the establishment of a committee of inquiry as early as yesterday evening for a vote in the cabinet today. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister's Bureau said yesterday evening that the conditions have not matured for such an announcement "due to political reasons."
Talks have been held with the U.S. administration and several European countries to rally support for the mandate of the committee of inquiry and approval of its makeup. The Americans have rejected - a number of times - Israel's proposals and asked that a retired Supreme Court justice head the probe. The issue was resolved when Justice Yaakov Tirkel was proposed for the post.
The Americans have also been busy with the issue of sanctions against Iran at the United Nations Security Council and also with the visit to the U.S. capital by Abbas and so exchanges with Netanyahu's bureau on the committee of inquiry were delayed.
Apparently, there is another cause for delay involving exchanges between the Americans, Israel and European countries concerning the proposed foreign observers on the committee of inquiry and their authority. One of the foreign observers on the committee will be a senior American jurist. Washington has made it clear that the administration would like at least two European observers to be involved in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the Israeli panel.
The issue of the Gaza flotilla and lifting the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip was the main topic of discussion between Obama and Abbas last Wednesday night.
European diplomats updated by the White House on the talks said that Abbas had stressed to Obama the need of opening the border crossings into the Gaza Strip and the easing of the siege, but only in ways that do not bolster Hamas.
One of the points that Abbas raised is that the naval blockade imposed by Israel on the Strip should not be lifted at this stage. The European diplomats said Egypt has made it clear to Israel, the U.S and the European Union that it is also opposes the lifting of the naval blockade because of the difficulty in inspecting the ships that would enter and leave the Gaza port.
Abbas told Obama that actions easing the blockage should be done with care and undertaken gradually so it will not be construed as a victory for Hamas. The Palestinian leader also stressed that the population in the Gaza Strip must be supported, and that pressure should be brought to bear on Israel to allow more goods, humanitarian assistance and building materials for reconstruction. Abbas, however, said this added aid can be done by opening land crossings and other steps that do not include the lifting of the naval blockade.
On Friday, Netanyahu met with Quartet representative Tony Blair in his office. This was the third meeting between the two during the last eight days, and centered on ways of easing the blockade on the Strip.
Senior Israeli officials and European diplomats say there is agreement that policy on the blockade should be altered, but this should be done carefully and discretely.
"There is agreement that no major declarations should be made so Hamas will not to be allowed to score points," a source familiar with the talks with Blair said.
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The FM has their little puppy in Haaretz and any plants get watered by this journalistr/propagandist. Not many stories he have penned have turned out to have any truth in them. Here we have another attempt by the FM to saw hatred between brothers. The Palestinians should have learned by now to take these "informations" from barak Ravid with a pinch of salt.
Whether it is the fault of Mr. Ravid, or the whoever wrote the headline to this article, the subheading reads, in part, thus: "The Palestinian president REPORTEDLY told Obama.."(caps added by me). Mr. Ravid has neglectfully failed to add the source of his information. Is it true? Does that matter? If not, where does that leaved the majority of the "TalkBacks"?
I thought Abbasse's term as the presiedent was expired a while ago, how come he is still Mr Presiedent? He must be getting old and forget that the old servants' opinion does not count.
The Israelies should replace B B with Mahmood Abbas just the way the Americans changed Bush for Obama. Both are hopeless as each other and irrelevant as each other to the M E peace process.
The blockade kept Hamas controled and less likely to try and overthrow Abbas & taking over Judea and Samaria. Obama knew this and it provided a scapegoat suddenly Hamas were the only ones who were against the peace process. If either of them had been against the blockade they would have said so and demanded Israel lift it long ago not just as a knee jerk reaction in Abbas case to condemn Israel and Obamas because it had to look like he was doing something. Bibi even got permission from Obama before giving the go ahead for the operation of boarding the ships. So looks like Obama was quite happy for Israel to enforce this blockade. Before the incident on the ship no arab state has ever demanded the blockade be lifted they didn't care about Gaza. The Europeans are the only ones who have ever been united in opposition to the Gaza blockade which is why Israel has been able to keep this blockade in place for so long because neither the US or the arabs have ever been openly against it. Abbas though is now showing what a hypocrite he really is, the other day he was demanding the blockade be lifted and threatening the storm the border to liberate Gaza now he is saying he is against lifting it.
"Abbas repeated his calls for Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza in the meeting, and described Obama's promise of aid as a "positive sign". - Al Jazeera Your other cites are for this article as its source.
Just imagine...And he is supposed to be the leader that makes sure his people's welfare is taken care of...He wants to starve the "his people" in Gaza for political gains...How can we, as Palestinians, have this character negotiate for our freedom... Shame on him
Abbas has become a ventriloquist's dummy for the US and Israel after reciving US money. Thanks to it he is prepraed to sacrifice Palestine for 30 pieces of silver.
Why couldn't Abbas come out and say that the day when the Flotilla invasion was stopped?
Because Abbas seems to be the biggest friend of Israel, he is obviously the biggest enemy of the Palestinian people. His views and methods have not worked in the past and they will not work now or in the future.
Any average political mind would definately find tens of ways to deal with Hamas controlling gaza problem. But imposing reality on the ground and the use of force is the only possible option for aggressive people who decide to block 1.5 m people under seige for years now. Abu Mazen, instead of using his "creative political mind" that attracted the west to unlift this blockade, he's now simply announcing an ok for the suffering of people of Gaza. is that right abu mazen? He's realy behaving as if he's not the president of gaza and by that enforcing the seperation. I hope there will be a denying report for this news in a short while.
This is the same Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, heir to Yasser Arafat's corrupt and utterly compromised Palestinian Authority? I'll bet he doesn't want the blockade lifted for most obvious reasons. Pity about the Palestinians he is supposed to represent though. And he wonders why he makes no political headway against Hamas in Gaza?
You know there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, right?
This is the same Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, heir to Yasser Arafat's corrupt and utterly compromised Palestinian Authority? I'll bet he doesn't want the blockade lifted for most obvious reasons. Pity about the Palestinians he is supposed to represent though. And he wonders why he makes no political headway against Hamas in Gaza?
The Palestinians are one step closer to a home. They will get the West Bank. Why? Because they renounced terror. Thier economy is growing, they just built ANOTHER hospital and power plant. I wish them well. As for Gaza... it will go back to Egypt. They chose the Hamas and terror. We should seal the borders. no more food, electricity... nothing. let egypt supply them. Haaretz will not print this. I am Israeli. They do not cherish opinions from Israel. Haaretz is our National Enquirer
I could not have seen this news in any other source on the net.. Abbas should aim to get Palestinian’s trust again in stead of keeping his people in a dramatic condition. I don’t believe he can betray his people.. Some people still don't want to see the simple fact .. Israeli commandos killed nine civilians in high seas.. Nothing can justify this simple fact.. There are many parties who need Hamas over there..Israeli government.. It is a good pretext for them to do what they want to do.. Egypt who needs 3 billion USD from USA.. USA who needs Israel to control world energy policy.. This is a real “the union of opposites..”
An "extended" naval blockade reduces "Hamas controlled Gaza" to something less than human. Instead of liberty, they are being treated like caged animals. There is some truth that Hamas have been trigger happy with it's rockets. But the only way to remove such a threat is to heal the terrorists seeking the destruction of the State of Israel. There must be a common "well" from which both Israel and Hamas draws from. A "well" that is inclusive and not exclusive. "Seek yee first the kingdom of God!"
The murderer who wants to join Hamas in their suicidal quest to destroy Israel is not fit to lead this nation, period. The situation is beyond tolerable. I don't think these terrorists in arms can be trusted with a process of impeachement. They will simply beat our Congress in dark corners, as they already did during Health Care "debate".
I have a hard time believing this rumor.
Give Abbas nuclear weapons to defeat Hammas. Use Arabs as slave labor like Arabs used Jews as slave labor. Fly drones all over the world with WMD. That will scare the sh*t out of everybody and keep them quiet.
The man is shameless. Utterly shameless. Anyone who has even the slightest understanding of Ravid's "beat" knows that he is fed all of his information - lock, stock and barrel - from the Israeli PM's office. So when Ravid tells us what went down between Abbas and Obama he is simply repeating NETANYAHU's spin on the topic. No harm in that, I suppose, but it does mean that Ravid's "scoop" is sourced from someone who wasn't at that meeting, and who has a vested interest is making shit up.....
and realize that not everyone has your anti-jewish-israel agenda. furthermore, to use language one does not necessarily speak in front of populations, demonstrates how you could use some upgrading in your human being software. defiant children and immature adults resort to words that have no relevance to the issue- they are just reflective on your existence. clean up your act!
Ravid information is not new, and it is completly belivable. Any political success for Hammas entails a lose for Abbas. Neither the egyptians nor the PA want the opening of the blockade. It is crystal clear. In the same vein we can claim that the Saudis expect Israel to do the job against Iran and will provide any assistence it takes.
How can a leader do this to his people? This man has nothing to qualify him to be a leader of the Palestinian people. If this is the best that Palestinians can find as a leader, then Palestinians don't deserve to be liberated! I prefer to stay under occupation rather than seing some like this representing me.
President Abbas made it very clear of his wishes for the people of Gaza to have products they need to carry on living life in normalcy. Egypt has rendered their support for the people of Gaza too by opening their border crossing with Gaza. It's been purely honorable and all peaceful. Only if Hamas wouldn't be so stringent in their stance. It's strange how in as much support as they receive, in as many prisoners that have been released, some Hamas politicians, and in as many as were proposed to be released, they still won't allow visitation to Gilad Shalit or let him free. Gilad Schalit is a hostage with plenty of UNISEF support for the people in the area but not particularily for him. The rounds for negotiations need to keep on coming. There's bound to be a way to get through to each other as amicably as possible.
Anyway, Somebody must be responsible for the people of Gaza who are NOT Hamas! Maybe a million of them...who suffer greatly from the religious extremism of Hamas. This is a problem that UN doesn't worry about. The same problem as in Iran and everywhere else where extremism rules.
Another new low for journalism. A report about outrageous statements that allegedly have been said, without even identifying an anonymous source for this. Pure gossip.
So Abbas doesn't want the blockade to be lifted but he's not above inciting hatred with his comments about Israel protecting itself from attack by terrorists who came along for the ride by naive meddlesome "activists" who tried to break the blockade. There will never be peace in the region and there can never be a successful two state solution as long as Abbas lacks cojones.
Abbas is just a puppet. What he says or does won't change anything. While we wait for this puncturing of the current balloon of propaganda, we might as well savor the ironies. As well as being the two most intimate allies of the United States in the region, Turkey and Israel possess large and educated populations that want in their way to be part of "the West." They also both suffer from mediocre and banana-republic-type leaders, who are willing prisoners of clerical extremists in their own second-rate regimes. We cannot be thought of as European until we stop lying about Armenia, get our invading troops out of Cyprus, and grant full rights to our Kurdish population. Israel will never be accepted as a state for Jews, let alone as a Jewish state, until it ceases to govern other people against their will. The flotilla foul-up, pitting former friends against each other, only serves to obscure these unignorable facts.
I read your post Attilla and wonder why you haven't sent off to jail for your radical thoughts. Lucky for your Israeli counterparts, our leaders don't have a tradition of military dicatorships that step in when the civlians act stupidly. Actually, I am waiting for your generals to step in and tell Erduan that he is ruining Turkey's reputation in the rest of the world. Then again, if the Turks are invited to Gaza to put things in order, how long will it take for the locals to rise up against their most recent occupiers?
What will the useful idiots claim now? Don't worry, they've plenty of excuses for halping Iran, Turkey's partner, to establish an Islamic terrorist port in Gaza.
Well, well....Here is the proof to the world that THEY are all compulsive liars without even batting an eye lid It's a sickness in the Middle East .Two weeks ago Abbas condemed Israel now he supports Israels blckade. From now on I will not believe a word they say.
Apart from the whole corruption thing, which Abbas was never able or willing to confront in his party, he simply has not the stature of a Palestinian leader. Fayyad is willing to go new ways, and to take some risks (Boycott of settler goods, peaceful civil disobedience, eventually unilateral decla- ration of a Palestinian state) in order to bring some movement into the totally blocked situation. And he has the full backing and trust not only of the United States, but the whole International community. The WB Palestinians must for once let their tribe-mentality behind, and make that urgently necessary change. And in the end, those Israelis, who honestly want a fair 2-state solution, would also benefit from that......
I agree with what you say, except the part about tribal-mentality. I think everyone is guilty of putting the family ahead of others. Israeli Jews seem caught up in their own divisions between the Ashkenazi and Sephardi, orthodox and reform. Quite sad.
Even moderatre Pals get their bearing right. Talkback armchair terrorists, truth hurts doesn't it?
.." The sieve can''t shield the sun' .. Neither Abbas nor any one else can uptake HAMAs from our minds and hearts. By this stupid declaration of Abbas , our determination to support the resistance movement for liberation becomes more and more stronger.
and unfortunately our U. S. President is of the same mind. Sadly I read that you would rather die for their mutual misguided ideology. Why don't you learn from our President. He is just as fired up as you are about the "ideas", but he will most certainly retire on a lavish pension of the highest ranking federal employee of United States. As philosophers say, words are great guidance, but example is what matters. I am sure if you follow Mr. Obama example, rather than opinions, you will find Israel more than happy to accommodate. We deeply appreciate young, ambitious, and talented people who love to contribute to society. And unfortunately but Mr. Abbas cares about the same for Israeli Arab neighbors a lot more than man sowing iron bars in your fields.
Don't let your wicked pursuit be the ruin of yourself and your people.
Israel didn't get this for free.
... as it always is, that whatever Israel does, has to be wrong. We are yet to see protests from Abbas and the rest of the world, if Israel lifts the blockade.
I don't know what was said, but I do know that if Abbas a) puts his politics ahead of the Gazan's welfare and/or 2) aligns himself too much with the US/Israel, he is done with and I fear both are happening.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2010/06/mil-100607-rianovosti09.htm last week he said to end it. are you sure your info is credible? just sayin.
Real peace will only be without Hamas. Hamas should stand down and we can all get on with our lives. They are runing it for the gazans. I mean 3 years without jam
Get real. The divide in thinking between Israeli who are the western front in the heart of the Arab and Islamic world is unbridgeable. Just like the differences between French and Brits culinary tastes .
Note the Mavi Marmara incident, now being seen in a vastly different perspective((see "Days of Planning" NY Times, June 5-- "...He(Dr. Koskun, a Turkish eye-witness)was also angry at the young men who fought the (Israeli)commandos. He rebuked one of them for bragging about having beaten an Israeli. "I told him, just because you wanted to flex your muscles and drag three soldiers down, nine people ended up dead...." Etc.,.etc)).
All the aid gaza gets hamas keeps and doesn't give it to fatah families. The left doesn't realize this.
How much longer will this Israel-bashing farce last? I suppose till the last Jew--to use Helen Thomas' phrase--gets the hell out of Palestine.
What do you expect from an opportunist and traitor to his people.
vising Gaza and trying to achive reconciliation, something doesn't sound right here.
It sounds right. He just did not forget that first things that Hamas did, coming to the power, were assassinations of Fatah activists and shoutings of demonstrators in the streets.
If there ever was a good ventriloquist act this it. Guess who the wooden dummy is and who's doing the real talking.
...what a SUCKER. This fool wants to secure his own seat at the champagne party, at the expense of the Gazaians. Talk about the enemy within, my God. I feel sick just to think about this, my God.
Abbas answers those in the international community who think Gaza's "humanitarian crisis" will be solved by creating an Iranian port in Gaza to bring in terrorists and rockets. Maybe he realizes that Hamas is not only interested in murdering Israelis, but that he is also on the Hamas "hit list". Who would have guessed that this position would come from the same man who names a street in Ramallah in honor of a homicide bomber? The Iranian influence is steadily growing in the surrounding regions, as Hamas radio stations are now reportedly the only stations being played in Palestinian camps in Jordan. King Abdullah must face the music recognizing the end of his authority is near. Standing alone against the world with an erosion in American support under Obama, Israel will not be able to prevent Jordan from becoming a radical Palestinian State.
Global stupidity has its king in Obama. But wasn't invented by Obama. It was always there, from Chamberlain to Carter. You are spot on about the useful idiots for the cause of turning Gaza into an Iranian port. Your comment on Jordan becoming a jihadist Iranian Palestinian puppet is off-side.
Barak Ravid has only one souce of information; the Israeli PM's office. So when Ravid presents this "scoop" he is actually feeding us shit that has been fed to **him** by Netanyahu. And you lap that shit up and decide that it tastes delicious.......
It's as I always suspected - Gideon Levy and Amira Hass are further left than Abu mazen. They actually support strengthening Hamas!
There is some HOPE for LIGHT in this darkness...madness... INSANITY... WONDERS NEVER CEASE .... FATHER GOD BLESS MR ABBAS for this REVELATION KING & LORD JESUS BLESS HIM .... With Much Love O Israel
It reads "Barak Ravid". And Ravid is, of course, Haaretz's go-to man between the paper and the Israeli PM's office i.e. he has been fed this "scoop" by Netanyahu's spin-merchants. The chances of it being true is.... about... oh.... about... "infinity to one".
Abbas does not represent the Palestinian people.
#26 - and who does, you? are you a hamas supporting jew, mr cohen? he IS the leader of fatah politics does make strange bedfellows
They want Hamas, Nasrallah or Ahmadinejad himself to "represent" the Palestinian people. These are the people Haaretz caters to. Schande !
You don't build nations by political and diplomatic manoevers. You create a national political, social, economic, and intellectual culture. That takes longer than "Now". The Czechs didn't like the Habsburgs very well, but they knew who was "in charge". First they asked if they could praise the Emperor in thier own language, then applied for permission to publish a Czech-German dictionary, and over three centuries they had a national culture that was recognized by the rest of the world. That takes time, dude, but in a age everything "now". You end up spilling blood, and ink that poisons the wells, polluting the world with hate and prejudice.
You don't build nations by political and diplomatic manoevers. You create a national political, social, economic, and intellectual culture. That takes longer than "Now". The Czechs didn't like the Habsburgs very well, but they knew who was "in charge". First they asked if they could praise the Emperor in thier own language, then applied for permission to publish a Czech-German dictionary, and over three centuries they had a national culture that was recognized by the rest of the world. That takes time, dude, but in a age everything "now". You end up spilling blood, and ink that poisons the wells, polluting the world with hate and prejudice.
You know this is why the gaza issue is in crossroads. When something as big as the flotilla raid comes up, someone somewhere has to open his mouth.
the continuation of divide between Al Fatah and Hams will serve the purpose of the continuation of the Statu quo. Israel and USA can now be in position to say: It is not us, but Palestinian who demand that Gaza to be continued blocked.
...that Abbas is anti-arab, pro-Israel, a puppet... you are all a bunch of neanderthals...
Regarding the dipute between Hamas and Abbas I say a plague on both their houses. Both are murderous thugs, only their suits are different. After they kill the Jews they will kill each other. Such is the way among Arabs. Only delusional Europeans and leftists believe otherwise because they don't really care so long as the Jews get wiped out first.
This must be an exclusive. It is reported nowhere else. And it appears to be unsourced. I have a lot of trouble believing that Abbas wants the suffering in Gaza to continue. This sounds more like the source of the tory is the Israeli PMO. Opening Rafah with Turks or EU monitors and the port of Gaza with the US 6th Fleet checking for and stopping weapons sounds more like an Abbas position that continuing the siege. But, then again, I never expected to hear a New York Senator argue for making children suffer to learn up their parents.
is not the us deficit high enough? as for the turks, israel will never agree. the blockade will be kept as long as hamas remains an iranian proxy and as long as hamas receives missiles and other weapons systems from iran.
Sixth Fleet sails around the med with nothing else to do. Checking an occasional ship for contraband weapons without shooting it up is something our Navy knows how to do. And Israel should have no say about Rafah, none whatsoever. Israel claims it left Gaza.
ML: "Who is the Source? " Well, look at the name of the reporter: Barak Ravid. His job is to always report EXACTLY what the Israeli PM wants you to read; neither more nor less. It's what Ravid is employed to do i.e. to present Netanyahu-spin as if it were "independent news"
then maybe it should be disbanded. what would the american tax payers say if they found out that an entire fleet was cruising around with nothing to do? as for rafah and the turks, egypt has every right to keep them out. do you think that egypt would want turkish soldiers on its borders? abbas would not agree either.
The Israeli leaders !!??? No wonder there is no peace !! You guys deserve each other ... Haaretz please post , thank you
Abbas is more concerned about his job than his people. Very sad indeed!!
....???????
Abbas is a follower of one sect which is apposite of Hamas and true beliefs in Islam, so he is not good for Palestianians and there is no doubt in this. You can see Middle Eastern leaders in Arab countries all of them are dictators except Turkey. So, you can think how would be good for israel to have all Muslim and Arab contries with right elected leaders as you see Turkey!
Hi, I'm from Chile and I would like to do some hasbara... this one can be a good new to let the world know why even the president Abbas doesn't want Hamas... But.... do you have another source of this new?? I haven't read in another media nothing related with "Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting of Gaza blockade", please let me know if there is another media from another country talking about this... thanks
http://www.AlJazeera.net http://eye-on-the-world.blogspot.com/2010/06/abbas-to-obama-im-against-lifting-of.html http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x324451 http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?139200-Abbas-to-Obama-I-m-against-lifting-of-Gaza-blockade&s=69557cb35045f96eb75b9eea213ed9b0&p=1842695#post1842695 http://muckrack.com/link/2098340
"Abbas repeated his calls for Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza in the meeting, and described Obama's promise of aid as a "positive sign". - Al Jazeera The other cites this article as its source.
Thank you for your information, is very useful! muchas gracias desde Chileee
If Abbas doesn't support Gaza, then he isn't the right person to negotiate on Palestine's behalf. Israel and the US will have to accept an open port at Gaza at some point. Hamas will outlast their enemies. Afghanistan is case study in endurance. How many superpowers will they break?
Palestinians in Gaza are Iranian puppets, their women aren't as silenced as the Taliban, so far. Hamas is not something you can beat militarily, but have to, anyway. Abbas may indicate the way to the lunatic lefties who support "Palestine" by supporting Iran and Iranian proxies such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezballah.
true necessity of the blockade . Humanitarian aid is not a problem , but Hammas is a big problem for foes and friends of Israel . There is very little disagreement on who Hammas is even among Arabs and they are all afraid of Iranian Shiat aggressive influence in the region . They might be less vocal then Abbas , but the consensus is clearly there .
why they voted for Hamas. This guy works for Israel.
With all its oil and land, Egypt must work for Israel, too, by your stupid "logic". Oh yeah, another "Jewish conspiracy", right. Moron.
do not expect her to be logical. all she knows how to say is "me no likey."
No Egypt works for Israel via USA-proxy ;)
So even Abbas doesn't want to lift the blockade. So Israel's blockade is justified. So... the flotilla raid was justified. It was successful since the ship didn't make it to Gaza.
status quo, and 400 million dollars for the corrupt Fatah party to line their pockets with. This quisling must be removed to stop the suffering. He's a traitor to his people.
the fact abbas does support blockade does not mean it is justified. Abbas is no God.
Barak Ravid has only one source for all his information; the Israeli PM's office. EVERYTHING you read from him has been sourced from that office, and so what you are reading here is what Netanyahu wants you to read.
Loos like the Israel Propoganda already in full swing. First report that Saudia Arabia give permission for Israel to fly over its land then Abas ask Obama not to lift the Gaza blockade. what is next, bibi is a masayah.............
How incredibly nasty he is to his own people. The man deserves to be removed from power and quickly. This makes him look like an Israeli puppet, and Israel will suffer because of it..
Are Haaretz privy to what Obama and Abbas talk about ? I don't think so.
abbas has infinitely more experience and smarts than obama will ever have.
does this guy have ANY relevance in palestine? it seems like every time he opens his mouth he advocates for more suffering of his own people. if i was in gaza i sure as hell wouldn't like him (no wonder they vote for hamas when this puppet is the only other option!). so... does he? have any power in gaza, i mean?
I applauded Arafat when he displayed the same kind of courage as Sadat and made an agreement with many sacrifices involving delay of huge questions that left the ultimate status of Palestinian Arabs. I remember praying that history not make him a traitor to his people. What has Palestinian acceptance and negotiation accomplished for the Palestinians but misery? I pray to the God of Existence that future leaders of the Palestinians be wiser than Arafat and Abu Mazen.
Does it mean no offer Israel can give is good enough? Do you mean Israel must allow the untenable demand of unlimited Right of Return to Palestinians within Israel to all of their descendants?
Palestinians leaders need to be united. Abbas is interested in his own goals, not the people. Hopefully his people will step down. Fatah party corruption is the reason Hamas was elected in the first place. He IS the problem. Let Barghouti out of prison.
Go hug Haniyye, Nasrallah or Ahmadinejad. They are waiting for you with open arms. You'll never need to conceal your anti-Semitism behind politically correct clichés. You'll be free at last.
Or Egypt for that matter? Let's hear it from the craven hypocrits whose only problem is Israel
A leader from Hamas said just a few weeks ago that Hamas' finances have "never been better" due to their controlling of smuggling tunnels, and they DON'T want the blockade to end. So Hamas doesn't want the blockade to end because it helps them, yet Fatah says the blockade shouldn't end because it's hurting Hamas. Someone is lying here. The question is, who...? Of course the gut reaction is to support the side that the US supports, but you know what? lately the US hasn't been too hot on supporting the "right people".
Eli, Abbas does not want the blockade completely liftrd because it will Bolster Hamas. Bolster means give mort power and support Hamas. Abbas wants new blockade in order to give gazans rekief without benefice for Hamas. None is lying.
Fatah is an Egyptian creation and watches out for Egyptian interests. Israel is another such entity.
Suckers, all suckers at a champagne party, while the poor and helpless children suffer. ...oh what fools we are to care.
We need to recognize the difference between the two kinds of terrorists...The "good one" wants the West to pay and support a free pal state.Offcourse this "free pal" will turn into an iranian base the next day...and then they will "take care of Israel and the Jews..." The "bad terrorist" IS ALREADY AN iranian BASE AND IS "TAKING CARE OF ISRAEL AND THE JEWS" FOR A LONG TIME... IT'S ONLY A DIFFERENCE OF PRIORITIES... ISRAEL'S HARDEST TASK IS TO CONVINCE THE WORLD THAT THE STATE MUST SURVIVE...AND ISRAEL WOULD BE ONLY THE FIRST DOMINO IF IT FAILS...
You should set fire immediately to everything, would looks better! Funny as well to see that the good old DOMINOS theory that lead to VietNam war failure for the US, will serve the same purpose for Israel....
I can't understand how a reputable anti-occupation newspaper publishes these news items from time to time. The Israeli military censor must be really working hard. According to his interview with Charlie Rose talk show, Abbas spoke about a host of issues with Obama. The most important of which was the issue of borders and security - which are part of the current proximity talks. Everyone - Israel, the PNA, Abbas, Obama - know that the pressure on Israel to lift its blockade is about allowing the access of materials (especially cement and coriander) to the Gaza Strip. Also everyone knows that unless Hamas changes its positions, the allowed goods will be cannelled through the UN, not Hamas. Please don't make yogurt out of our heads with your uncorroborated reports.
he cares more about money than people. sad.
he cares more about money than people. sad....No it is not money only this time , it is that everybody who thinks , like or dislikes Israel , understands what Hammas is all about . That if the naval blockade is not in place Hammas could sett the whole ME on fire .
Miracles NEVER cease.... with Father God & Lord Jesus Christ at the helm ... PRAISE GOD !
And particularly about Gaza's people! Don't forget that the million people of Gaza are NOT Hamas but on the contrary, under Hamas' dictature.
number one EVERYONE cares about money! number two... the only way Israel is going to end the blockade is when Hamas Consolidates its position and agrees to a reconciliations deal with Fatah... Number 3 the people of Gaza are under a strict Islamo-fascist government which promotes "honour Killings"... so do you really think the Average Pal in gaza is really pro Hamas or more pro not getting my head blown off... The truth is the people of Gaza need Fatah because once they are in charge of the borders... EVERYTHING sans weapons will flow into Gaza in spades... (which is much better then what Hamas can offer at its inflated Tunnel smuggling prices)
Ordinary Gazans, Not Hamas, is hurt by the Blockade. Hamas gets 90% of it's funding from outside, but people must dig dangerous tunnels to meet ordinary needs. Abbas doesn't represent Palestinians. He represents his own pockets filled with US AID money,