Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted June 7, 2003 Hamas ceases truce talks with Abbas U.S. calls militant group ‘enemy of peace’ Palestinian supporters of Hamas demonstrate Friday at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. MSNBC NEWS SERVICES June 6 — The United States denounced the militant Islamic group Hamas on Friday as an “enemy of peace” after the organization broke off talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas aimed at ending anti-Israeli violence, a crucial step in the implementation of the U.S.-backed “road map” to peace. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN Scott McClellan said President Bush’s peace efforts would continue and he urged all parties in the region to dismantle the “infrastructure of terror.” “Hamas is an enemy of peace and we will continue working with all parties to try to achieve peace,” McClellan said. A senior Hamas official said Friday the militant group was breaking off cease-fire talks with the Palestinian prime minister. The official, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, spoke just hours after Israeli troops killed two of the group’s activists in an arrest raid in the West Bank. But talks with Hamas leaders abroad continue, a Palestinian Cabinet minister said, suggesting there was still a chance to reach an agreement to end Hamas violence including suicide attacks against Israelis. As part of the U.S.-backed “road map” to Palestinian statehood, the Palestinians must disarm and dismantle militant groups that have killed hundreds of Israelis in shootings and bombings in 32 months of fighting. Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, has been trying to negotiate with the militias rather than use force, saying he wants to avoid civil war. It was not clear whether a Hamas refusal to negotiate a truce would set the stage for a crackdown by Palestinian security forces. Moran: Lofty vision, long odds TOO MANY CONCESSIONS Rantisi, a Hamas leader and hard-liner, told reporters Friday that efforts to reach a truce were off. He said Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, made too many concessions at a summit Wednesday in Jordan. At the meeting with President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Abbas called for an end to the “armed intifada.” “We were shocked when we saw Abu Mazen and his new government giving up all the Palestinians’ rights,” he said. “Abu Mazen committed himself in front of Bush and Sharon to very dangerous issues that closed the door of dialogue between us.” Other Hamas officials said they would meet Saturday with Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group, to persuade it to break off truce talks as well. Hamas, founded in 1987, is vehemently oppose to peace with Israel. Palestinian Cabinet Minister Ziad Abu Amr, Abbas’ liaison to Hamas, said he has not received official word from Hamas that talks were finished, but said the killing of the two Hamas activists by Israeli troops was hampering the effort. “Israel’s continuation of the policy of assassinations and incursion is an obstacle in the way of efforts of dialogue with the Palestinian parties and the possibility of reaching a cease-fire with them,” Abu Amr said. HAMAS DEATHS The Hamas activists were killed just before midnight Thursday in the village of Attil, after troops surrounded a house and ordered those inside to surrender, the army said. When the men, who were hiding in a room, refused to come out, troops entered the house and fought with them. Two of the militants were killed and a third was wounded and arrested, the army said. Rantisi said the killings were a direct result of Abbas’ concessions. “Abu Mazen, through giving up the right of resistance and calling it terrorism, gave the green light to Sharon and his army,” he said. Abu Amr said the Palestinian leadership remains committed to dialogue with Hamas and that contacts between the Palestinian leadership and Hamas leaders abroad are proceeding. Meanwhile, other efforts to clear the streets of gunmen continued. Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian security chief, has offered to buy illegal weapons carried by members of a militia linked to Abbas’ own Fatah movement, according to several Palestinian officials and militia members, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Dahlan has received money from the United States and Europe for buying the weapons, the officials said. U.S. and British officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There were conflicting reports on the amount of money promised. A leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a militia linked to Fatah, said Dahlan is offering $6,000 for each rifle, while officials gave lower figures. Dahlan also offered a signup bonus of at least $6,000 to Al Aqsa members who leave the militia and join the security forces, militiamen said. Al Aqsa did not say whether any members had accepted the offer. PRISONER RELEASE SOUGHT However, in a leaflet, Al Aqsa said it would only disarm if Israel stopped killing and arresting its leaders and released prisoners. The group also demanded Israel lift a travel ban on Yasser Arafat, in effect for more than a year, that confines the Palestinian leader to the West Bank. Palestinians in Gaza held three pro-Hamas rallies Friday. About 1,000 people marched at each, some carrying green Hamas flags and chanting, “No to the summit, we will not accept surrender.” Elsewhere in Gaza, along the sandy southern border with Egypt, Israeli forces uncovered two tunnels used by weapons smugglers and fought gunmen who unleashed what the army described as a massive amount of gunfire. The Palestinians fired seven anti-tank grenades and lobbed more than 100 hand grenades. There were no serious injuries reported on either side. The army also reported that four mortars were fired at an Israeli settlement and an army post in Gaza, causing no injuries or damage. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Is anyone surprised by this? Hamas has repeatedly and clearly stated that they don't want peace, and claimed responsibility for so many terrorist attacks, that I'm shocked anyone even thought for a second they'd comply with any truces or treaties. I'm very rarely one to condone violence, but if the Palestinians are serious about peace and attaining their own state (which is another argument altogether that, were it not for all the suicide bombings against Israelis, I wouldn't care about), they need to take action and squash the group like the bugs they are. And, despite all my cries against U.S. intervention/policing in the Middle East, I'd have no problem whatsoever with Bush diverging a few troops to take care of this issue. If he's really serious about peace in the Middle East, sorry to say, but he has to. I can't believe Hamas even has a chance or say in the peace process. By the by, since I've been living under a rock the past few months, what's the deal with this renewed peace process anyway? How long has it been coming along, and what are some key events in it (both biases appreciated...the closest thing I'll get to a fair look on it )? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted June 7, 2003 Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, has been trying to negotiate with the militias rather than use force, saying he wants to avoid civil war. Another fucking incompetant. WHAT IN ALL HELL IS THERE TO NEGOTIATE? They stop killing innocent people, or they get run off the face of the earth, by America if need be. Look, I gave them two options. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vyce Report post Posted June 7, 2003 By the by, since I've been living under a rock the past few months, what's the deal with this renewed peace process anyway? Well, the United States waged a war in Iraq, decisively winning it in essentially 4 weeks with very low loss of life (American / British casualties). Now we have a couple hundred thousand troops stationed, for all purposes, right next door to quite a few of the more extreme and vicious Arab states (i.e. just about ALL Arab states), and stand posed to have a significant presence in Iraq for some time to come. So, when we tell Palestine & Israel to get busy making nice, they know to damn well at least try. Isn't it ironic? All this bellyaching about the war, and it's led to more advancement (arguably) in the Palestine / Israel peace process than the ardent efforts by the previous administration. My take on the Hamas situation: they commit one serious terrorist act against Israel in the middle of this peace process, and we threaten their asses with a few thousand American troops ready to bust heads. If Abbas isn't willing to use violence, we ought to be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 7, 2003 If Hamas launches any kind of homicide bombing (which they will) Isreal will take everything of the table immediatley. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest B-X Report post Posted June 7, 2003 US Troops in the Holy Land. That's the last thing I ever want to see happen. As hard a time as Israel has been giving Palestinians and Hamas in general, in the US has to send troops to help Israel. Holy shit. The shit will hit the fan. That would probably kill any support we have in the Middle East. Somehow, I get the feeling that some of you won't care about the Middle Easts feelings towards us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 7, 2003 I don't see U.S. troops in Isreal. If this peace plan falls through, the US won't do anything about it. I'd hope President Bush reliazes that peace cannot happen when terorist groups like Hamas exist, and Yasser Arafat remains in power behind the scenes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted June 7, 2003 US Troops in the Holy Land. That's the last thing I ever want to see happen. As hard a time as Israel has been giving Palestinians and Hamas in general, in the US has to send troops to help Israel. Holy shit. The shit will hit the fan. That would probably kill any support we have in the Middle East. I'd rather not see U.S. troops in Israel either for that reason (as well as a sort of Jewish/Israeli pride stemming from "well, we won the Six Day War without other countries' troops"), but the sad fact is, the fanatics in these Arab states are going to hate us for ideologically supporting Israel regardless of whether we're physically supporting them with weapons or troops or not, and the other sad fact is U.S. intervention is probably the only way to get the larger terrorist groups like Hamas shut down or at least greatly incapacitated for good, since the new Palestinian government (which I'm a bit confused by in the first place since they don't have a state yet, do they?) is already showing their yellow belly by refusing to take any actions against them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted June 7, 2003 I'm inclinded to agree with AngleSault here. Since we're already in the Middle East we should fix some things. Tell this Hamas group to stop killing people or they will be stopped by force. It's that easy. And while we're at it, we take down Arafat and take our troops out of Saudi Arabia (which will give the people a chance to overthrow the ruling family). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 7, 2003 we take down Arafat and take our troops out of Saudi Arabia (which will give the people a chance to overthrow the ruling family). How wise is it to have the royal family overthrown? What would you get in it's place? Sorry if this is going off topic somewhat, but JMA's post got me wondering. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Cancer Marney Report post Posted June 7, 2003 What would you get in it's place? Something much, much worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheMikeSC Report post Posted June 7, 2003 US Troops in the Holy Land. That's the last thing I ever want to see happen. As hard a time as Israel has been giving Palestinians and Hamas in general, in the US has to send troops to help Israel. Holy shit. The shit will hit the fan. That would probably kill any support we have in the Middle East. Somehow, I get the feeling that some of you won't care about the Middle Easts feelings towards us. No, we don't care. In this instance, we must do the RIGHT thing. If subhuman monkeys wish to kill themselves (and others) to go see their precious Allah, we ought to be nice enough to expedite their journey. And Arafat isn't fond of this peace deal, either. Shocking. But, as we all know, this is --- somehow --- Israel's fault. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
