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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas Says to Privatize Gaza Border Crossings

2014-02-24

[An Nahar] The Gazoo Strip's myrmidon Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, rulers have said they plan to let private contractors take over the running of the Paleostinian territory's border crossings with Egypt and Israel. "The government is to give the private sector the opportunity to handle the technical management of crossing points from the Gazoo Strip," Hamas deputy prime minister Ziad al-Zaza told Agence La Belle France Presse on Saturday and said that a commission of seven businessmen would be dedicated to the project. "Supervision of all terminals will be under government control," said Zaza, who is also finance minister. The coastal strip, whose air and sea lanes are blocked by Israel, has three land crossings; Erez and Kerem Shalom with Israel and Rafah with Egypt. Kerem Shalom is for goods only, while Erez and Rafah are for passenger traffic. Although Hamas ousted the western-backed Paleostinian Authority from Gazoo in 2007 PA officials continue to coordinate the work of the crossings with Israel. Israel does not have direct political or economic ties with Hamas which it defines as "a terrorist organization." Hamas MPs, who hold the majority of seats in the Paleostinian parliament -- met in special session in a tent at Rafah on Sunday to demand that Egypt lift border crossing restrictions. "We are here in front of the Rafah terminal to ask our brothers in Egypt to open Rafah to goods and persons," deputy parliament speaker Ahmad Bahar said. Egypt imposed the restrictions as part of a campaign by its security forces against jihadists in the lawless Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gazoo and Israel. Exit through Israel is strictly controlled, with permits mainly limited to "medical and humanitarian" cases. Entry of goods to Gazoo from Israel is also limited, with passage barred to a range of "controlled items" which Israel deems could be used by forces of Evil to make weapons or build fortifications.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas: Prisoners to be free if more soldiers captured

2011-04-18

[Ma'an] Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, politician Ahmad Bahar on Sunday urged Paleostinian factions to form orc groups with the aim of capturing Israeli soldiers. The deputized Paleostinian Legislative Council speaker said kidnapping soldiers would pressure Israeli authorities to release Paleostinian political prisoners. He made the remarks in a speech commemorating Paleostinian Prisoners' Day in Gazoo City. Bahar urged the captors of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to insist on their demands for a swap deal to release Paleostinian detainees. Shalit was seized in a cross-border raid in June 2006. Negotiations to secure his release have so far failed. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Paleostine Maxwell Gaylord on Sunday urged Israel to comply with international human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... law in its treatment of Paleostinian prisoners, particularly women and kiddies in Israeli jails. In a statement from his office to mark Prisoners' Day, Gaylord noted that the practice of detaining Paleostinians in Israel was contrary to the Geneva Conventions. "Israel's policies and practices regarding Paleostinian prisoners raise a number of concerns, including a lack of clarity on the legal status of such prisoners, the location and conditions of their incarceration, the need for access to legal counsel and representation, the issue of administrative detention, and the prevention of family visits for detainees from Gazoo," the statement said.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas: Free and fair elections need unity

2011-02-17

[Ma'an] Deputized Parliament speaker and Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, leader Ahmad Bahar said Wednesday that honest elections could not take place without a unity agreement that "restores the national rights of Paleostinians." The official reiterated the Hamas position in a conference address in Gazoo City, calling elections the right of the Paleostinians guaranteed under the Basic Law, but for the elections to be "carried out by a legitimate government." Because the calling of elections must be backed by a presidential decree, Hamas says, there can be no legitimate elections, as Abbas' mandate ran out - by some accounts in 2009, and others in 2010 - and he is no longer accepted by the party as head of the Paleostinian Authority. Commenting on the resignation of the PA cabinet earlier in the week, and Abbas' reappointment of resigned Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and request for him to form a new government, Bahar said the move was "no more than a desperate attempt to absorb the anger of the Paleostinians."

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Bahar: Shalit law will lead to more kidnappings

2010-05-05

[Ma'an] Ahmad Bahar, first deputy of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said Tuesday that a proposed law prohibiting Hamas affiliates in Israeli custody from receiving family visits will lead to further attempts to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Responding to Israeli media reports that the law, termed the Shalit Law after captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, will soon pass before the Israeli parliament's plenum for discussion, Bahar said the move would reinforce legitimate Palestinian demands and further kidnappings. A statement released by the PLC official said "the prisoners' cause is in the hands of every Palestinian, Arab and Muslim, and will be alive in the hearts and minds of all." Bahar said Palestinian detainees endure harsh conditions in Israeli custody, with punitive measures often enforced against prisoners by the Israeli Prison Service, calling on human rights organizations to bring an end to "Israeli aggression against prisoners."

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas declares PLO decision on Abbas a coup

2009-12-18

[Ma'an] Hamas labeled the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) decision to extend the term of President Mahmoud Abbas a coup in statements delivered after the decision was announced on Wednesday. Senior Hamas leader Ismail Radwan told Ma'an that the PLO Central Council's decision was "illegitimate and a continued coup against constitutional law which stated the end of president Abbas' term was in January 2009." Radwan said that the PLC "does not need anyone to extend its term -- it is the master of itself." The PLC's term, he claimed "Does not end except by electing a new Legislative Council." "The right option is to go to ballot box after achieving Palestinian reconciliation," he said. The PLO extended the terms of both Abbas and the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Legislative Council during a meeting in Ramallah on Wednesday. Radwan said that the PLC "does not need anyone to extend its term -- it is the master of itself." The PLC's term, he claimed "Does not end except by electing a new Legislative Council." At the same time, he said Hamas is "keen" to sign a deal to reconcile with Abbas' Fatah movement based on a recent Egyptian proposal, after some amendments to the document, which Fatah signed without the amendments in October. The decision to extend Abbas' term came after the Central Elections Commission said it would be unable to organize a vote in Gaza, where Hamas authorities will not allow it. On Thursday, senior PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo responded to Hamas' remarks. He said the Central Council's decision had been made according to the Basic Law and not "according to games of [Hamas PLC officail] Ahmad Bahar and the Shura Council in Gaza who invent to themselves a legislative council that issues laws and decisions in the name of legitimacy. "The last thing Hamas has the right to talk about is the law and the constitution because it knows that the outcome of the elections will reveal it lacks of the major part of support that it got in the last election because of its behavior and policies," he added in an interview on Palestine Radio. He also dismissed Hamas' stated desire for elections, saying, "the timing of elections is what was stated in the Egyptian proposal ... Hamas does not does not want elections to be held either on June 28 or even next century."

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Hamas' Bahar says he is for unity, protection of homeland

2009-09-12

Ma'an -- Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Bahar said he is for dialogue, unity and the reorganization of security forces so they can "protect our homeland and not Israel." Speaking during a Friday prayer in Gaza, Bahar said Palestinian political prisoners in the West Bank must be released so sides can get down to dialogue. His comments come following the release of an Egyptian conciliation plan to leaders of all Palestinian factions. Talks are set to start again in October. One element of the Egyptian plan addresses the reform and reunification of Palestinian security forces under Egyptian and Arab training and observation. Addressing the issue the Hamas leader said he supported strong security forces able to protect the country, and not ones focused on "Israel and chasing the resistance fighters," principally Hamas affiliates in the West Bank. Bahar also cautioned that "we do not want a dialogue based on an American Zionest agenda or on the vision of US President Barak Obama," but rather a dialogue that served the Palestinians. Commenting on the last dictate from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue of peace talks - that Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state - Bahar said "recognizing Israel as a Jewish state means the Palestinians from inside Israel do not exist." He went further saying any side that bowed to Netanyahu's request "is a betrayer."

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Three Palestinians killed in renewed Hamas-PA clashes in Qalqiliya

2009-06-04

Qalqiliya -- Ma'an -- A daylong standoff between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas gunmen has ended with three people dead in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya on Thursday. PA security officials said they moved into the building where the clashes took place to find the dead bodies of two men, and a third injured, believed to be members of Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. The two were apparently gunned down. Which would explain the bullet wounds... Bled to death from foot wounds, did they ... Earlier a Palestinian Authority (PA) security officer was killed by a grenade thrown by the Hamas men, who were holed up in a building in the vicinity of the local Bank of Palestine branch. Two other PA officers were lightly injured after coming under fire. Yer surrounded, Mahmoud! Be a good lad and come out with ya hands up! Eat steel, ya lousy coppers! BOOM! Qalqiliya Governor Rabih Al-Khandaqji said that the armed men had hid in a bunker inside the building, confirming that the PA officer was killed. He added that the PA brought the mother and the brother of one of the Al-Qassam Brigades members to the building to convince him to surrender peacefully. It's ya sainted mother, Mahmoud! Be a good boyo and come out with ya hands up! Jimmy's here too, he wants to see ya! Go home, Ma! Okay, boys! Give'em the gas! Adnan Ad-Demeiri, spokesperson for the PA security forces, identified the slain officer Riyad Zin Ad-Din, 26. He said two others were lightly injured after the were shot by Al-Qassam affiliates at the beginning of the operation. Sounds like the Hamas goons "sensed the presence of law enforcers"... The spokesperson did not confirm reports that the Hamas fighters were killed by waste water pumped inside a tunnel the men were hiding in, nor that poisonous gas was used against them. Geez, the Joooos do that and the UN starts setting up a war crimes trial... It's one way to get rid of all the waste water since the Juice bombed the sewage treatment plant ... "The PA security forces use non-fatal methods like water and gas, but they do not kill," he said. Well, not usually... An investigation into the deaths was underway on Thursday. Leave no stone unturned, men! I'll notify Dr. Quincy! Meanwhile, Hamas announced the deaths of its three affiliates, identifying them as Mohammad A'tieyah, Iyad Al-Abtali and Ala' Thiab. PA security sources denied the killing of Thiab, saying he was lightly injured and surrendered to security forces, who arrested him. See! He's fine! Pssst...pull that rope around Ala's wrist so he can wave... The clashes come just days after six people were killed in a Hamas-PA shootout in Qalqiliya, the worst episode of internecine violence in the West Bank in two years. On Wednesday an Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson said that fighters would violently resist any PA attempt to arrest them. Grrrr! Woof! To the last drop of blood! Gaza-based Hamas leader Ahmad Bahar earlier urged the PA to end the standoff and release the Al-Qassam Brigades fighters. The Hamas movement in the West Bank also called on Egypt to intervene and deescalate the crisis. Their appeals were apparently had no effect. What? Can't hear yas! Must be a bad cell. Call back later... Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa television reported that there were three fighters holed up inside the building, including one named Hussam Atiyeh. The surrounded building is owned by Abdel Fattah Shreim, who was arrested by the PA. That your house, Abdel? Ummmmmmmm...why? Al-Khandaqji, the Qalqiliya governor, also accused Hamas of attempting to repeat its 2007 takeover of Gaza in the West Bank. ...and I've got to protect my phony baloney job! Also on Wednesday Hamas said that PA forces arrested 12 Hamas members during raids in Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarem, and Jenin. Hamas released the names of the arrestees, which they said included the director of Al-Aqsa television in Hebron. Didn't get that "violent resistance" memo I guess... Brigadier Thyab Al-Ali, the head of PA's National Security force in the West Bank, and police chief Brigadier Hazem Atallah, arrived in Qalqiliya to follow up on events. Damn! What are they doin here? C'mon, men. Look like your doin sumthin...

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