Israel cuts ties with Abbas before he's even sworn in.

[what_the_doofus]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Mideast%20Palestinians

Oh, shit. I forgot that if you stop talking to the country you're at war with the war automatically ends.

[Ali]

Maybe there's hope yet. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4189007.stm)

Israel allows Palestinian talks
Israel has lifted a ban on contacts with new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, imposed last week after a suicide attack in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Army Radio said the decision was taken at a meeting of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's inner cabinet.

Senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials are expected to hold talks shortly as a result of the decision.

The Palestinian security chief said earlier his forces would guard the Israel-Gaza border to stop violence. The problem lies on both sides. The cycle has to be broken somewhere. If the Palestinians and Israelis can control themselves, then surely there has to be a way to settle this dispute.

Like FW De Klerk in 1989, Sharon is realising that the Palestinians cannot be oppressed forever. He has to concede Gaza and the Left Bank.

Let's see what happens.

[ASsman]

LOWER THE DRAW BRIDGE!

[Ali]

LOWER THE DRAW BRIDGE!Could this be the beginning of the end?Palestinian forces deploy on border (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D9D621CA-357D-4434-AC5A-118209BF81C2.htm)

Palestinian security forces have taken up positions across Gaza to curb resistance attacks against Israel, while the Rafah border crossing reopens.

The Palestinian deployment on Friday is part of new Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas' plan to halt violence and revive peace talks.

Palestinian security sources said about 2000 paramilitary police were assigned to border towns Bait Hanun and Bait Lahya and other parts of northern Gaza to prevent resistance fighters firing rockets and mortars at Jewish settlements and Israel.

Aides to Abbas said he had discussed with resistance leaders in Gaza this week the need for restraint to help ensure Israel pulls Jewish settlers out of the territory this year as planned - a step Israel says it will not take "under fire".

"Our orders are clear: to control these areas and to stop attacks," said Ismail al-Dahduh, a senior Palestinian officer, after briefing a group of 100 security personnel.

But asked what would happen if his men encountered fighters on a mission to attack Israelis, Dahduh said: "We will avoid clashing with them and we will talk to them in a positive way."

In what could be an initial sign of progress in Abbas' efforts to achieve calm, no mortars or rockets have been fired in Gaza since Tuesday. and yet Shirin Abu Akla, Aljazeera correspondent in Ram Allah, said Israeli occupation forces backed by military vehicles entered the city's centre after midnight on Thursday.

The forces were deployed outside the Palestinian presidential headquarters and besieged one of the buildings where explosions were heard.

Palestinian sources said the Israeli forces detained the father, mother and an uncle of a wanted Palestinian. But unofficial Israeli sources said seven Palestinians were arrested. Since when was it OK to detain relatives of a criminal? Who is making the effort to break the cycle and who is propagating it? Why do the Palestinians have to stop firing mortars when Israelis continue to invade and attack?

[Whois]

Maybe there's hope yet. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4189007.stm)

The problem lies on both sides. The cycle has to be broken somewhere. If the Palestinians and Israelis can control themselves, then surely there has to be a way to settle this dispute.

Like FW De Klerk in 1989, Sharon is realising that the Palestinians cannot be oppressed forever. He has to concede Gaza and the Left Bank.

Let's see what happens.

Sharon is a psychotic...he's simply waiting for the right excuse to purge the occupied territories (and Lebanon, Syria, Jordan).

"Leibenstraum!"

[RedSkunk]

The most promising thing right now, is the fact that Arafat is gone. No, not because Arafat was a huge terrorist hoser (debatable, nother issue altogether), but because of the absolute (mutual) hatred between Sharon and Arafat. That was one of the chief things impeding any process before, in my mind. They would hardly meet, let alone get anything done.

With a new Palestinian leader, who has been supported (politically) by Israel for awhile now, Sharon has no excuse that there's no "partner for peace." The peaceniks in Israel can push Sharon. And if Abbas can actually control the majority of Hamas, et al? Steller!

This cutting ties nonsense was just posturing by Israel. Barely a week after this thread was created, things are looking more positive (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4199189.stm). Such is the conflict, never know what's going to happen.

[ASsman]

Stupid Jew.

[Whois]

Stupid Jew.

"Eric, did you just say the F word"

"...Jew?"

"No he's talking about fuck...you can't say fuck in school you fucking fatass."

[Hypestyle]

we'll see what happens.. support the peace process..

[Ali]

"Eric, did you just say the F word"

"...Jew?"

"No he's talking about fuck...you can't say fuck in school you fucking fatass."stupid fucking Jew

is that better?

[Whois]

stupid fucking Jew

is that better?

South Park: The Movie