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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Elmer Flugum who wrote (10731)	12/17/2005 4:55:19 PM
From: Scoobah	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

RIP: THE PALESTAIN STATE: Israel: Hamas victory precludes return to road map A potential Hamas victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Palestinian Authority would make it impossible to return to the road map peace plan, Israel Radio quoted a government official in Jerusalem as saying Saturday. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom reiterated his stance that acquiescence to Hamas' participation in elections runs counter to Israeli interests, warning that Israel would impede Palestinian movement during elections in the event the Islamic group does run in the poll. "The participation of Hamas in the elections will result in the establishment of 'Hamastan' in the territories and will put us back 50 years," Shalom said. Shalom said Abbas must keep Hamas from participating in elections since the group has carried out numerous deadly attacks against Israel. "[Abbas] needs to decide either he surrenders to Hamas or sides with the international community against terrorism," Shalom said. "This is a fateful decision for the future of the Palestinian Authority and for his future." "The PA must go into elections with the intent of entering into negotiations with Israel," Shalom said. Shalom labeled as "very important" a decision Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives that the Palestinian Authority risks losing U.S. financial aid and other support if it permits Hamas to participate in the parliamentary elections. The United States includes Hamas on its list of terror organizations. The Foreign Ministry attributes the House bill to its recent diplomatic initiative as well as its continuing efforts in lobbying against Hamas' taking part in elections. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said in respose to the American bill, "People must respect the democratic choice of Palestinians," adding that the U.S. government had a different standard for the Palestinian election than for the recent Iraqi election. "I haven't heard any American official speak about those who have guns and those who don't have guns in Iraq even though there are more guns in Iraq than in the whole region (here)," Erekat said. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said, "We consider the latest positions in the U.S. and in Israel against Hamas part of a systematic campaign against the Palestinian people's choice. Such statements aim to block the way to Hamas' participation." The House resolution conditions future financial aid to the Palestinian Authority on the exclusion of Hamas from the upcoming parliamentary elections next month. According to the resolution, any Hamas participation in the government of the PA "will potentially undermine the ability of the United States to have a constructive relationship with or provide further assistance to the Palestinian Authority." In the resolution, passed on a 397-17 vote, the House also urged Abbas to declare before the election that he intends to dismantle terrorist organizations. The House resolution, which has more than 150 sponsors, says the participation of Hamas in the PA government "will inevitably raise serious questions for the United States about the commitment of the Palestinian Authority and its leadership to making peace with Israel. Rep. Ileanna Ros-Lehtinen, chairman of the House International Relations subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, said the resolution takes a united stand "against the attempts of the murderous Islamic extremist organizations to hijack the elections." Ros-Lehtinen said a mistake already was made this summer when Lebanon allowed Hezbollah, another militant Islamic group, to participate in elections despite its refusal to disarm and dismantle its infrastructure in violation of a UN Security Council resolution. The United States continues to deal with the Lebanese government even though Hezbollah has a seat in its Cabinet. Beilin, Ayalon blame Sharon for Hamas gains Yahad-Meretz chairman Yossi Beilin attributes Hamas' strong showing in the elections is the "rotten fruit" of the Israeli government's policy, which has destroyed the ruling infrastructure of the Palestinians Authority over the past five years, Army Radio reported Saturday. Beilin's statements echoed those made hours earlier by former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon in an interview with the French journal Le Figaro. Ayalon blamed Sharon for strengthening Hamas, saying "Hamas' victory on Thursday in the West Bank is the result of Sharon's policy." He added that because of Sharon's treatment of Fatah and the PA, "most Palestinians are convinced that the Fatah has failed and Israel?s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is the result of terror."

To: Elmer Flugum who wrote (10731)	12/17/2005 5:09:27 PM
From: Scoobah	Respond to of 32591

Nearly every night this past week, the IDF has carried out a counter-terror operation in Gaza. Following Thursday night's attacks, Israel's Air Force and artillery targeted thirteen roads in the area of Beit Hanoun and Jabalya, in northern Gaza. The IDF said that the routes are regularly used by terrorists to reach the areas from which they launch Kassam rockets at Israeli towns. In northern Samaria, the region from which two Jewish towns were forcibly removed and destroyed during the Disengagement Plan, the IDF continues to thwart terror attacks on a daily basis. During the past week, the following attacks were thwarted by the IDF presence in and around Shechem (Nablus) and Jenin: * An explosives laboratory was uncovered by the IDF and General Security Service in the Massaken Sha'abiya neighborhood in Shechem. In the laboratory, forces found: an explosive belt ready for use, a projectile rocket, 160 pounds of explosives, an electronic system used for cellular activation of a network of explosive devices, a small explosive device and a large quantity of raw materials used for the manufacturing of explosives. The explosives laboratory was detonated in a controlled manner by IDF sappers. * A number of explosive devices, weighing hundreds of pounds, were uncovered in a well in the village of Kabatya, southeast of Jenin. The explosives were detonated in a controlled manner by sappers. Four wanted Islamic Jihad terrorists were arrested in the operation, during which the Arabs opened fire several times at the force and activated two explosive devices. In addition, a Border Police officer was injured lightly when Arabs hurled firebombs and rocks at additional forces in the area. * Two metal cans filled with explosives were found in the possession of a 15-year-old Arab boy who arrived at the Hawara Crossing, south of Shechem. A 6-inch knife was found on an Arab man at the crossing and three other men were found with four firebombs and a number of rifle bullets. * Two pipe bombs were found and confiscated at a temporary roadblock west of Jenin and a belt full of ammunition confiscated at such a roadblock south of the city. * A 16-year-old Palestinian tried to stab Border Police at the Salem Crossing after a metal detector determined he had a large knife on his person. An Arab woman was found with a large knife on her person at the Beit Eba checkpoint near Shechem. The woman admitted that she intended to stab soldiers at the checkpoint. * Soldiers were alerted of contact with the separation fence near the Jenin suburb of Kafin and were targeted with an explosive device when they arrived at the scene.