Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jimmy Carter to Meet Hamas Militants in Gaza This Week

2015-04-28

Of course he will. They're some of his favourite people, doing one of his favourite things. [Breitbart] Former U.S. Democratic President Jimmy Carter will travel to the Gaza Strip on Thursday and meet with officials from Hamas, the Jihadist terror organization that rules the Palestinian territory. "Carter will arrive in Gaza on Thursday through the [Israeli-controlled] Erez border crossing to meet with leading Hamas officials," a Palestinian security spokesperson told Anadolu Agency, a news outlet based in Turkey. Carter, 90, will meet with the Hamas military chief Ismail Haneya, Xinhua reports.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Abbas security forces arrest 10 militants in West Bank

2009-06-05

Islamic Hamas movement said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces arrested on Friday seven of its members and three members of the Islamic Jihad movement. The group said in a written statement sent to reporters that Abbas' security forces stormed the homes of its members, including two former prisoners recently released from Israeli prisons. Hamas said the arrests were carried out in West Bank cities of Qalqilya, Tulkarem and Nablus, adding that three members of the Islamic Jihad were also arrested in the northern West Bank city of Jenin. The arrests came one day after a security officer and two Hamas militants were killed in armed clashes erupted in Qalqilya. On Sunday, two militants and three security officers of Abbas were killed in similar clashes. Gaza Hamas leaders and militants earlier called on Hamas members and militants in the West Bank to resist any attempt carried out by Abbas security forces, to arrest them. Spokesman of the deposed Hamas government, Taher al-Noono, said in a press release sent to reporters that "what (Mahmoud) Abbas security forces did in Qalqilya is a real crime and an implementation of the Israeli occupation policy." In light of the Qalqilya incidents, Hamas said it studies suspending its participation in the national dialogue that is due to resume in early July in Cairo to prepare for signing a draft of an inter-reconciliation agreement. Deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haneya on Thursday said that the Egyptian-sponsored dialogue "has come to a crossroad due to the practices of the Palestinian security apparatuses in the West Bank. What happens in the West Bank is a serious deterioration in the national Palestinian ties, especially in the new philosophy of using armed action against men of resistance," said Haneya. He called on Egypt for a fast interference "to stop harming the arms of resistance in the West Bank and prevent the collapse of the efforts to achieve a national reconciliation. What happened is completely serving the occupation (Israel)."

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Haneya calls on Egypt to open Rafah crossing for patients

2008-07-25

(Xinhua) -- Deposed Prime Minister of Hamas unity government in Gaza Ismail Haneya called on Egypt Thursday to reopen Rafah border crossing point to allow in Palestinian patients in need of proper medical treatment. Haneya made the appeal after a Hamas woman lawmaker in the Hamas-dominant Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) was hit by a severe heart attack. "The case of Om Nidal Farhat (the lawmaker) is not the only case that needs urgent medical treatment, there are dozens of patients that need an urgent treatment," Haneya told reporters when he was visiting Gaza Shifa Hospital. Israel imposed a tightened blockade on the Gaza Strip after Hamas movement took control of the enclave by force and routed President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah security forces in June last year. In January, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians thronged to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to buy daily necessities of food, medicine and fuels after militants blew up the borders fence between the impoverished enclave and Egypt. "We want Egypt to break the blockade and save the lives of hundreds cases," Haneya said, adding that "since the blockade was tightened, 250 patients died due to the lack of medical treatment in the Gaza Strip." Israel and Hamas had agreed in a truce deal brokered by Egypt to ease security restrictions imposed on Gaza crossings. However, Rafah crossing has not been reopened due to splits between the two sides on its operation. Gaza ruler Hamas wants Rafah crossing, the only Gaza passage to the outside world that bypasses Israel, to be run by Egyptian and Palestinian officials, but the Jewish state insists that its operation must abide by a 2005 agreement. According to the U.S.-brokered deal in 2005, Abbas' presidential guard forces were put in charge of security at the crossing in addition to European Union (EU) monitors. The two parties left the crossing following Hamas' bloody takeover of Gaza. In some occasions, Egypt opened the crossing for patients and some Hamas leaders who leave for talks in Cairo.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas presses for Israeli commitment to truce

2008-07-18

(Xinhua) -- A senior Islamic Hamas movement official on Thursday warned Israel that Hamas would quit an Egyptian-brokered truce if Israel keeps Gaza Strip border crossing points closed. "If Israel doesn't commit itself to the truce and reopen the crossings, this truce should go to hell," Ahmed Yousef, an advisor to deposed prime minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas government in Gaza told reporters. Egypt has brokered a truce between Israel and Gaza militant groups for six month in the Gaza Strip without including the West Bank. According to the deal, Israel should ease restrictions it imposed on Gaza Strip crossings. "Our fingers are still on the triggers if Israel is not committed to the truce," Yousef said, adding that "Israel has deliberately restricted the goods' movement at Gaza crossings during the truce term to exert more pressure on Hamas."

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas Gaza leader denies Arab forces deployment under ceasefire deal

2008-06-24

(Xinhua) -- Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Haneya on Sunday denied that the ceasefire deal with Israel comprises the entry of Arab forces to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. 'No one has officially spoken about Arab forces in Gaza Strip and there is no Arab state thinking of sending troops to Gaza,' said Haneya. Moreover, he added that Hamas 'doesn't accept Arab forces' to prevent friction with Israel, but 'welcomes Arab forces helping the Palestinian people in their liberation.' A few days ago, an Israeli newspaper reported that the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire may include the deployment of multinational Arab forces in Gaza in its final stages. The ceasefire, started on Thursday, will last for six months. It aims at halting Gaza rocket attacks against Israel in exchange for stopping the Israeli army operations and easing the siege that Israel imposed on Gaza for one year.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Haniyeh says Abbas 'welcomed' in Gaza anytime

2008-06-19

(Xinhua) -- Deposed Prime Minister of Hamas Ismail Haneya said Wednesday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is welcomed to visit the Gaza Strip anytime he wants. "We welcome the visit of anyone to Gaza, especially President Mahmoud Abbas," Haneya told reporters in Gaza, adding "If the president wants to visit in Gaza he will be very welcomed." Abbas sacked the Haneya-led Hamas unity government after Hamas routed his secular Fatah movement in a week of bloody infighting and took control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year. Two weeks ago, Abbas offered an initiative to launch a comprehensive dialogue among all Palestinian factions to end the status of split and disputes between rival Fatah and Hamas movements. Asked about the truce that will take effect on Thursday morning, Haneya said "the truce will end the Israeli aggression on our people, the closed crossings will be opened and the blockade will be lifted." "This truce would achieve security and end the suffering of the Palestinian people. It will also make the Israelis feel comfortable if they show commitment to it," said Haneya at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in Gaza. Since the violent takeover of Gaza by radical Hamas, Palestinian militants have launched rockets from the territory against southern Israeli communities almost daily, while Israel has imposed a tightened blockade on Gaza and termed it as a hostile entity. On Tuesday, Egypt, which has been trying to broker the truce in Gaza for months, announced that Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have agreed to a truce starting from Thursday.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Haneya says Hamas succeeded to separate Shalit's issue from ceasefire

2008-06-16

(Xinhua) -- The Palestinian deposed Hamas Premier Ismail Haneya said on Monday that its movement has succeeded to separate between the issue of a captive Israeli soldier and the Egyptian proposal of ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, thanks to Egypt. "The Egyptian efforts could comply with Hamas demands that the file of the captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, stays away from the file of lull which will be completed soon," Haneya said in Gaza city. He added that the ceasefire will take place "to achieve the Palestinian people's aspirations, the halting of the aggressions and the lifting of the siege." The Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip and the closure of the territory were intensified after Hamas took over the territory a year ago following the defeat of forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas. Haneya applaud his movement's "patience and good management of the process and the moves with Egypt" to make its ceasefire initiative successful. Meanwhile, Haneya slammed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) due to the continuation of the Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories. "Announcing the building of new 40,000 houses while Rice (the U.S. Secretary of State) is in the region, makes light of the Palestinian rights and the Palestinian negotiators," Haneya said.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Haniyeh urges Egypt to open Gaza border unilaterally

2008-05-19

(Xinhua) -- Deposed Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya on Sunday called on Egypt to open its borders with the Gaza Strip if Israel rejects an Egyptian initiative for ceasefire. "If the occupation is not interested in the Egyptian initiative, Egypt is asked to unilaterally open Rafah crossing and break the siege on the Palestinian people," Haneya said in a televised speech. "We support Egypt in its moves to achieve a mutual lull with Israel, coincident with lifting the siege, stopping the aggression and reopening the crossing," Haneya added. Meanwhile, he said the Palestinians "are keen to end the issue of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit" who has been hold hostage in Gaza since 2006. Israel demands Shalit's issue to be settled under the Egyptian initiative, but the Palestinians want Israel to release some one thousand prisoners in exchange for Shalit. "Settling this issue will not take time if occupation government responded to the Palestinian people's demands," Haneya said. In addition, Haneya said his movement "is interested in resolving the internal Palestinian issues completely," referring to the differences with rival Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. A Hamas delegation will hold talks with Egyptian officials on Tuesday to discuss Israel's response to the initiative. Israel tightened the siege on Gaza and increased military operations after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip by force last June.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Spokesman: Hamas hands over ceasefire position to Egypt

2008-04-24

(Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday handed over its vision about a ceasefire deal with Israel to Egyptian mediators, a spokesman for the movement said. The spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said Hamas' stance regarding the Egyptian proposals for a ceasefire was handed over to the Egyptian officials on Wednesday by Mahmoud Zahar, a Gaza-based Hamas leader who held a series of meetings with the Egyptian officials. According to the spokesman, Hamas' position is based on stopping all kinds of Israeli military escalation, reopening the crossing points into Gaza and lifting the Israeli sanctions on the Hamas-ruled territory. He added that Hamas insists on the coincident, mutual and full factors when applying the ceasefire deal. Abu Zuhri said Hamas' decision was made after internal discussions between Hamas leaders inside and outside the Palestinian territories. Egypt has been mediating between Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire deal. Hamas has reportedly accepted that the ceasefire takes place only in Gaza. However, its deposed Premier Ismail Haneya said earlier in the day that the ceasefire should also include Wes Bank.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas denies creating crisis with Egypt

2008-04-10

(Xinhua) -- Ahmed Yousef, an aide to the deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya denied on Wednesday that Hamas or the government is seeking to create a crisis with Egypt. However, Yousef said in a statement that "the volition of defying the imposed blockade on Gaza can't be postponed and the Palestinian people can't accept to die before the sight and the hearing of the entire world." "This blockade is part of the international collusion against Hamas movement and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya in order to overthrow the government. The blockade is an Israeli and American pressure to achieve this goal," said Yousef. Yousef threatened that "if the blockade continues imposed on the Gaza Strip, we will be obliged to open a hole on the wall of the blockade and breach the borders because our people are dying." "There will be no settlement in the region if the blockade is not ended, and we will left it either by war or by peace," said Yousef. On Tuesday, Khalil el-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, also threatened to storm the borders with both Israel and Egypt and break a ten-month blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. Israel imposed a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip and considered the enclave a hostile entity after Hamas militants routed President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces and took control of the vicinity in mid-June last year.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas: discussions on border reopening made headway

2008-03-14

(Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Thursday said discussions on reopening a crossing point between Egypt and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have made progress. "An essential progress was made in the talks between Hamas and the Egyptian officials regarding Rafah crossing," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. A final agreement, however, on the mechanisms of running the passage was not reached, he said. Abu Zuhri disclosed that the 2005 U.S.-brokered deal, which stipulates the presence of European Union (EU) monitors as a third party on the border passage but rules out any Hamas involvement in the management of the crossing, will not be reactivated. "It is not possible to exceed our vision and stance in this regard... Hamas will have a central role in any arrangements to reopen the crossing," said Abu Zuhri. The Rafah crossing has been closed since June last year when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip by force after routing security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The EU monitors also withdrew from the terminal following the takeover. Hamas blasted open the Rafah border in January to allow hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to stock up on daily necessities in short supply due to Israeli blockade and has demanded a role in running the border. Recently, Cairo has intensified efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants. The deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya on Wednesday publicly called for a ceasefire with Israel and lay out his conditions for an interval in fighting that has killed at least 120 Palestinians in recent weeks. Haneya demanded an end to Israeli military activity in Gaza, a lifting of Israeli sanctions and the opening of Gaza's borders, which have been sealed since Hamas seized control of the area last June. Meanwhile, Ismail Radwan, another spokesman for Hamas, said his movement did not oppose that pro-Abbas forces be deployed on the crossing. But he lay out the condition that the security personnel "must be pure and acceptable to Hamas." Radwan's remarks followed Israeli reports that Hamas and Egypt had agreed to deploy the Presidential Guard on the crossing. Radwan did not confirm the report.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Haneya says truce with Israel must include West Bank

2008-03-14

(Xinhua) -- Ismail Haneya, Prime Minister of the deposed Palestinian government based in the Gaza Strip, said on Wednesday that a truce with Israel should include both Gaza Strip and West Bank. "The Palestinians seek a comprehensive, mutual and parallel cease-fire that could lead to an end of the imposed siege and opening the closed crossings," Haneya said, adding that "The decision to agree on a cease-fire is in the hands of Israel." Egypt has been mediating recently between Israel and the Palestinians in order to forge a cease-fire that ends rocket attacks from Gaza Strip at Israel and halts Israeli ground and air attacks on militants groups in the enclave. But Haneya denied that Hamas is seeking a cease-fire deal with Israel, adding that "such reports aim at disfiguring the Hamas image after its great sacrifices following Israel's military operation in Gaza, where 130 people killed."

Link

Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More