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Hamas ready to join PLO
Resistance group Hamas has reiterated its readiness to join the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which groups together all the major Palestinian factions.
Mahmud Zahar, one of the main leaders of the resistance group, said on Monday that disagreements over the PLO charter and the size of Hamas' representation in the council had delayed its incorporation.
"Our decision to participate in the PLO is not new. It is a longstanding and clear decision," Zahar said after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the Gaza City.
The Hamas leader said some progress has been made in minimising disagreements.
"A committee grouping the general secretaries of the Palestinian factions was set up to look at this issue and the results have opened the way to the entry of Hamas and other factions into the PLO," he said.
Hamas pledge
Zahar said Hamas' entry did not mean that it had renounced its commitment to a Palestine incorporating modern-day Israel.
The PLO charter calls for the creation of a Palestinian state only in land conquered by Israel in 1967.
"We are renouncing not one iota of Palestinian land but we can reach a temporary compromise with other factions," he said.
Speaker of the PLO's parliament Salim Zaanun said the PLO executive committee would meet on Tuesday for talks with representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which is also outside the organisation.
Fatah is the largest movement in the PLO, which represents Palestinians living in the occupied territories as well as the diaspora.
The PLO controls the Palestinian Authority set up by the 1993 Oslo accords with Israel.
In a related development, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas' Fatah faction, in a major step towards democratic reform, is to hold primaries to choose its candidates for the July Palestinian parliamentary election, officials in the group said on Monday.
The 120-member Fatah Revolutionary Council, the faction's second most important decision-making body, agreed on the move at the end of a two-day meeting, the officials said.
Blast
Meanwhile, an explosion ripped through a car late on Monday in Gaza City, wounding a lawyer who was in the vehicle, as well as two bystanders.
The lawyer, identified as Majad Jafarwi, was seriously hurt.
Police closed off the area after ambulances raced to the scene.
Palestinians said Jafarwi, 55, is well known and is not politically involved.
Agencies
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/13C8EBFB-07C7-455D-B0C4-D977FF79B779.htm
"Our decision to participate in the PLO is not new. It is a longstanding and clear decision," Zahar said after a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the Gaza City.
The Hamas leader said some progress has been made in minimising disagreements.
"A committee grouping the general secretaries of the Palestinian factions was set up to look at this issue and the results have opened the way to the entry of Hamas and other factions into the PLO," he said.
Hamas pledge
Zahar said Hamas' entry did not mean that it had renounced its commitment to a Palestine incorporating modern-day Israel.
The PLO charter calls for the creation of a Palestinian state only in land conquered by Israel in 1967.
"We are renouncing not one iota of Palestinian land but we can reach a temporary compromise with other factions," he said.
Speaker of the PLO's parliament Salim Zaanun said the PLO executive committee would meet on Tuesday for talks with representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which is also outside the organisation.
Fatah is the largest movement in the PLO, which represents Palestinians living in the occupied territories as well as the diaspora.
The PLO controls the Palestinian Authority set up by the 1993 Oslo accords with Israel.
In a related development, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas' Fatah faction, in a major step towards democratic reform, is to hold primaries to choose its candidates for the July Palestinian parliamentary election, officials in the group said on Monday.
The 120-member Fatah Revolutionary Council, the faction's second most important decision-making body, agreed on the move at the end of a two-day meeting, the officials said.
Blast
Meanwhile, an explosion ripped through a car late on Monday in Gaza City, wounding a lawyer who was in the vehicle, as well as two bystanders.
The lawyer, identified as Majad Jafarwi, was seriously hurt.
Police closed off the area after ambulances raced to the scene.
Palestinians said Jafarwi, 55, is well known and is not politically involved.
Agencies
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/13C8EBFB-07C7-455D-B0C4-D977FF79B779.htm
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The meeting opened in Gaza City with Islamic Jihad in attendance although Hamas snubbed the invitation to the talks. Speaking before the meeting, Mohammed al-Hindi, a Jihad leader, said the talks would focus on "rebuilding" the PLO.
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, a top Hamas' leader, has earlier affirmed that his Movement decided to join the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) after restructuring it in accordance with new bases.
Zahhar said that Hamas' participation in the PLO’s executive committee meetings on Tuesday would be decided by its leaders abroad.
Hamas' decision to join the PLO was taken after the Movement delegation, including Zahhar, held an unplanned meeting in Gaza city with Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/181975
Another Al-Jazeera lie. What do these people think they can accomplish by telling such obvious lies in this day and age of internet?
The Plo charter calls for the creation of a Palestinian state which includes Israel.
The PLO charter was written in 1964.
@%<
The PLO charter calls for the creation of a Palestinian state only in land conquered by Israel in the 1967 war.
Fatah is the largest movement in the PLO, which represents Palestinians living in the occupied territories as well as the diaspora, and controls the Palestinian Authority which was created under the 1993 Oslo peace accords.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=13085
The PLO charter calls for the creation of a Palestinian state only in land conquered by Israel in the 1967 war.
Fatah is the largest movement in the PLO, which represents Palestinians living in the occupied territories as well as the diaspora, and controls the Palestinian Authority which was created under the 1993 Oslo peace accords.
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=39511
The PLO charter calls for the creation of a Palestinian state only in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, land conquered by Israel in the 1967 war.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4390061.stm
My guess is that all of these articles came from the same original wireservice source. If you want to blame someone for lying blame that source not Al Jazeera.
That's not true...the PLO Charter was written in 1964 before the so called "occupation" When refering to occupied lands, the Charter is refering to Israel...
I am afraid there is no other charter.
Moreover, those who fail to comprehend contract and/or international law-- should understand that a legally recognized modification to a document can be (and normally is) made via a letter of amendment-- Ergo, if one has an agreement (as is the case between the Israeli and Palestinian governments) that specific clauses are no longer valid and/or modifications are specified, then this is legally acceptable and binding upon the parties...
Refer to "Some Basic Aspects Between Israel and the PLO from the Perspective of International Law":-- http://www.ejil.org/journal/Vol7/No4/art2.pdf+Israel+reco ... " target="_blank" class=lnk>http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:p9SsFxgoI18J: ... ......
Neither the Israel government-- nor the U.S.-- have as yet asked the Palestinian government to make any further changes (and yet I agree that they should ask that a new Palestinian Charter be published for clarification because many in the public do not comprehend how to incorporate/interpret modifications to contracts/treaties via amendments)-- But, since all parties have accepted the "Road Map" which comprises the agreed changes to the Palestinian Charter and thus far, the letters of amendment have not been renounced or overturned by either the Israeli or Palestinian governments-- then, they are currently recognized as legally established fact under the law...
However, detractors who want to see a copy of a revised Palestinian Charter on the internet with the changes incorporated therein, rather than amended (which makes no difference legally) should write to the Israeli & Palestinian governments to express their concerns... For right now, neither government agrees with the viewpoint that the agreed revision(s) to Palestinian Charter "doesn't exist"... And, perhaps this is another example of a public relations "screw-up" that both the Israeli and Palestinian governments should rectify in order to eradicate the current confusion...
http://boards.charlierose.com/board/topic.asp?ti=11350&pg=28
(September 9, 1993)
1. LETTER FROM YASSER ARAFAT TO PRIME MINISTER RABIN:
September 9, 1993
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel
Mr. Prime Minister,
The signing of the Declaration of Principles marks a new era in the history of the Middle East. In firm conviction thereof, I would like to confirm the following PLO commitments:
The PLO recognizes the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security.
The PLO accepts United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
The PLO commits itself to the Middle East peace process, and to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two sides and declares that all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations.
The PLO considers that the signing of the Declaration of Principles constitutes a historic event, inaugurating a new epoch of peaceful coexistence, free from violence and all other acts which endanger peace and stability. Accordingly, the PLO renounces the use of terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations and discipline violators
In view of the promise of a new era and the signing of the Declaration of Principles and based on Palestinian acceptance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the PLO affirms that those articles of the Palestinian Covenant which deny Israel's right to exist, and the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the commitments of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid. Consequently, the PLO undertakes to submit to the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant.
Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestine Liberation Organization
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/recogn.html
If you see that letter as the official ammendment then that is what the above news reports were referring to. I can see that an ammendment in this form doesnt eman the original document becomes modified when its published as a historical document but I do think its enough that you cant really accuse the AP of lying (Im guessing that while the original comment attacked Al Aljazeera because its always fun for supporters of Israel to throw mud at the only major news source in the Arab world that leans strongly towards democracy, they were just syndicating a shortened version of an AP report; afterall they did list the author as Agencies which usually means its just content from the AP and Reurters with a few paragraphs from each sturng together)
The way to Peace is a Viable Palestinian State called for in the Road Map to Peace in the Whole of the West Bank and Gaza.
If Peace is to be achieved the different Palestinian Group need to come together and agree on a goal, A Palestinian State in the Whole of the West Bank and Gaza. To have such a Viable Palestinian State they need to recognize Israel in it pre 1967 (Green Line) borders.
The different groups with one common goal for the Palestinian People is the way to go if they want the rest of the world on their side.......
United they will stand.....divided they may just fall.....
"For right now, neither government agrees with the viewpoint that the agreed revision(s) to Palestinian Charter "doesn't exist"... And, perhaps this is another example of a public relations "screw-up" that both the Israeli and Palestinian governments should rectify in order to eradicate the current confusion..."
No, you're giving the slinking rat trolls in this thread WAY too much credit. The real reason behind their blind rejection of your position is not some "public relations screw-up" but rather the way you're framing the Israel/Palestine conflict more ambiguously than they like. Now they have to get out their bullhorns and scream you down.
No, I attacked al-Jazeera in the manner I did simply because they have a fondness for lying and they act upon it. Since you opened the door, though, I can tell you I'm not enthused about rationalizations being made for a network's slipshod (at best) reporting just because it happens to be Arab and I happen to be who I am. AP's culpability doesn't excuse al-Jazeera's sloppiness or lie.
If that Arab network "leans strongly towards democracy" and cares about accuracy in its reporting, then its leaving out so much in the way of clarifying what it meant exactly -- assuming your hypothesis is correct -- doesn't suffice, not by a long shot. Most people, having read such a blunt line in a report alluding to nothing other than the PLO charter itself, won't go searching the web the way you did to try to match an unambiguous statement by a reporter to what would seem at best like a vague reference to some rather largely forgotten letter from Arafat to Rabin dated Sep 9 '93.
In fact, that sort of reporting is manipulative at best, assuming of course that you were right.
If you walked up to anyone on the street in the US and asked what the 21st ammendment was I doubt many would know but that doesnt make alcohol still illegal....
"Moreover, those who fail to comprehend contract and/or international law-- should understand that a legally recognized modification to a document can be (and normally is) made via a letter of amendment-- Ergo, if one has an agreement (as is the case between the Israeli and Palestinian governments) that specific clauses are no longer valid and/or modifications are specified, then this is legally acceptable and binding upon the parties..."
and in the letter from Arafat to Rabin it says:
"In view of the promise of a new era and the signing of the Declaration of Principles and based on Palestinian acceptance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the PLO affirms that those articles of the Palestinian Covenant which deny Israel's right to exist, and the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the commitments of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid."
and again:
"Neither the Israel government-- nor the U.S.-- have as yet asked the Palestinian government to make any further changes (and yet I agree that they should ask that a new Palestinian Charter be published for clarification because many in the public do not comprehend how to incorporate/interpret modifications to contracts/treaties via amendments)-- But, since all parties have accepted the "Road Map" which comprises the agreed changes to the Palestinian Charter and thus far, the letters of amendment have not been renounced or overturned by either the Israeli or Palestinian governments-- then, they are currently recognized as legally established fact under the law..."
As for your attacks on AL Jazeera because they somehow have shody journalism due to carrying AP copy you consider to contain problems, what do you say to the other 1 million newspapers around the world that carry Reurters and the AP without verifying the contents (almost no newspaper does since they assume the work is done by the wire services). If you really see the statement about the charter as a lie why not write to the BBC about:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4390061.stm
They have fact checkers and if they determine it to be a lie they may even publish a correction?
Al Jazeera a force for freedom in the Arab world and while they may not be perfect they come under attack all the time for things that have little to do with their main mission. If you are going to attack them at least attack their Arab language TV shows or Arab language website since the english site is pretty much a site that carries AP and Reurters stories about the region but has little original content.
Al Jazeera is headquartered in Qatar. Our Coalition forces are also headquartered in Qatar...There is NO free press in the Arab world.
I tend to like Al Jazeera's coverage but dont like the government/royal familly of Qatar. They are hadly antiSemrican and allow their country to be used as a base for attacks on the poeple of Iraq. Fo the corruption Qatar Al Jazeera is remarkably uneffected. Can you name any stories they have run that they were made to publish? Do you know of any reporters who were fired or censored because of views disgareed with by the government? Al Jazeera reporters seem to face worse risks covering stories in Iraq and Israel's West Bank and Gaza remain almost impossible to cover due to the targetting of the press and extreme ristrictions on freedom.
"Moreover, those who fail to comprehend contract...
.
.
.
"and in the letter it says:
"In view of the promise of a new era...
.
.
.
"and again:
"Neither the Israel government-- nor the U.S.-- have as yet asked the Palestinian government to make any further changes..."<<<
What you were saying wasn't lost on me as I composed my assertions. Which leads me to my reply to your next passage.
>>>"As for your attacks on AL Jazeera because they somehow have shody journalism due to carrying AP copy you consider to contain problems, what do you say to the other 1 million newspapers around the world that carry Reurters and the AP without verifying the contents (almost no newspaper does since they assume the work is done by the wire services). If you really see the statement about the charter as a lie why not write to the BBC about:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4390061.stm
They have fact checkers and if they determine it to be a lie they may even publish a correction?"<<<
The thread's article features a report by al-Jazeera accompanied by its al-Jazeera URL rather than AP, Reuters or BBC. Therein lies my reason for calling the lie (or grave omission excuse for a statement if you're correct) as al-Jazeera's.
>>>"Al Jazeera a force for freedom in the Arab world and while they may not be perfect they come under attack all the time for things that have little to do with their main mission. If you are going to attack them at least attack their Arab language TV shows or Arab language website since the english site is pretty much a site that carries AP and Reurters stories about the region but has little original content."<<<
No sweat, if I see misleading MEMRI translated reports they manufacture hit the newswire in the form of articles, I will.
By Roee Nahmias
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has reached a historic understanding to incorporate Hamas into the Palestinian Liberation Oraganization (PLO) in exchange for relinquishing its vision of liberating the whole of Palestine, reported the London-based al-Quds newspaper Wednesday.
According to the report, Fatah will relinquish its monopoly on government and political influence, while
Hamas has recognized the PLO as the only legitimate Palestinian organization.
Agree to 1967 borders- for now
In addition, Hamas has agreed in principle to a series of far-reaching concessions, primarily acceptance of the PLO’s current political platform, which is based on the founding of a Palestinian state according to the 1967 borders. Verification of the report would mean the movement has abandoned its primary demand -- namely, the liberation of Greater Palestine.
Despite the agreement, however, Hamas reserves the right to return to its original demand in the future.
Changes to Palestinian National Council
On the diplomatic front, Hamas has pledged to make every effort to maintain the current calm and “to refrain from entering the Israeli game of provocation.” The newspaper also reported that Hamas has agreed to cease all suicide attacks and firing of qassam rockets towards Israeli targets and to ( freeze) but not to annul, the armed struggle, as preparation for joining the political game.
Hamas has also agreed to forfeit its demand for half the seats in the council, in exchange for the number of seats it would win in the elections. Moreover, Abbas has consented to bring Hamas activists into the Palestinian National Council (PLO parliament), and to take up a similar number of seats in the PLO executive committee. The sides also reportedly agreed to change the method of elections in the Palestinian Authority, and have posponed local authority elections until August.
According to the report, the agreement, which was compiled during the Cairo talks and agreed upon verbally two weeks ago, was put in writing and will be presented to U.S. President George Bush, who is then expected to present it to Israel.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3065621,00.html
It's hard enough to get the antisemite-infested Left to do it, let alone brainwashed islamic terrorists.
Just because hamas or islamic jihad, for a few minutes, verbally claim that they're going to do something that goes against every single thing they've said and done for many years, doesn't mean they're going to do it.
These nutcases want to destroy israel, and they don't care if it takes two years or 200.
What makes you believe that all of a sudden there's free press in the Arab world? Because Al Jezeera uses sattelites?
Of course some of the reporters have problems in places like Israel, many of the reporters have their own agendas.
In statements to the Egyptian Al-Ahram daily, Mishaal said that Hamas will not be participating in the Palestinian government.
He added that Hamas will be discussing with the Palestinian Authority and Fatah movement the upcoming stage and will be cautiously tackling any Israeli reactions but will not be giving up the resistance weapons or the national principles.
He noted that Hamas is looking forward to taking part in the legislative council to contribute in the making of the Palestinian politics but is not seeking to compete with Fatah.
According to Mishaal, the most significant achievement of the factions' dialogue in Cairo is their agreement to re-arrange the Palestinian leadership and avoid any disagreements.
He stressed the importance of the municipality and legislative elections and the reform programs, in addition to the re-establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organziation (PLO).
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=39558
http://www-qa.arcent.army.mil/welcome/commander.asp
He's a soldier, which is very different.
In recent year known terorristr Heymatyar has attacked various targets in Afghanistan and is thought to have ties with both war lords and drug kingpins. In the 1980s he received millions of dollars in funding as well as one of the world largest supplies of surface to air missles from the CIA. Among other US army trainees to hve gone bad in recent years are the Washington sniper, and Tim McVey.
I suppose the US was using the means it could given the circumstances. If the US had terrorists in its payroll knowing they were terrorists, it can be discussed if it was right or wrong.
But one thing is an army and a very different thing is a terrorist organization.
Your parodical jab at my first comment came to naught. I wouldn't say you're having a bad hair day though.
The US military in Iraq has killed, wounded, detained and tortured more people than al-Qaeda and al-Zarqawi could ever imagine.
So, by what standard is their conduct acceptable, while "terrorist" organizations, which, in your case, invariably are always Arab, with the exception of ETA, is not?
Please elaborate. I'm hopeful that the primary distinction is not the Arab and Muslim character of the organizations that you condemn.
--Richard
Arabs strive to murder as many civilians as possible...at least ETA phones ahead.
Besides it's not just Arabs, moslem terrorists around the world are murdering people
An army follows orders from the government of a country.
There is a chain of command: the commanders are publicly known.
There are rules of war they have to respect, one of them being that they should only attack military targets, and they have to spare civilians as much as possible.
Arab and Muslim countries have armies too: Morocco, Algeria, Tunicia, Lybia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Non-Arab and not Muslim terrorist groups: ETA, IRA, Breton Independentists, Corsican Independentist, Red Brigades, FARC, Sendero Luminoso (I think I have not mentioned all of them).
That is not always so. For instance, once they pushed a car-bomb inside a patio packed with children playing and made a slaughter. That is only a sample.
When they phone ahead, to start with, they phone a few minutes before the bomb goes off so you have virtually no time left. For instance, once in Barcelona the planted a van- bomb in the parking lot of a supermarket. They phone to no avail: many people died there.
And besides, when they phone, it is a trap. They do so for the police to go searching for the bombs and then they killed them.
Take into account that ETA has killed about 1,000 people and maimed many others. They have kidnapped people and kept them closed-up in a whole, sometimes for over one year.
I don't mean that it is the same ETA or the IRA as the Islamic fundamentalists. Islamic terrorism's aim is to kill us all because we are infidel dogs. They are making jihad to impose Islam all over the world.
If you did, you'd discover that the conduct of the US military in Iraq bears little resemblence to what you describe
But then, some distinction must be made to ensure that, except in rare cases, like ETA, only Arabs and Muslims fall within the "terrorist" definition
--Richard
[An army follows orders from the government of a country.
There is a chain of command: the commanders are publicly known.
There are rules of war they have to respect, one of them being that they should only attack military targets, and they have to spare civilians as much as possible.
Arab and Muslim countries have armies too: Morocco, Algeria, Tunicia, Lybia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc.]
. . . . as they are composed of WHITE EUROPEANS and not Arabs and Muslims
good to see that you are being more clear as to what this is about
incidentally, have to note again the US is killing, wounding, detaining and torturing far more people than Islamic terrorists in attempting to impose its order on the rest of the world economically and militarily
but, I've never seen you express any concern about it on this site, apparently, because the US is doing inflicting this harm predominately on Arabs
by the way, saw your praise of Daniel Pipes on another thread
guess you haven't noted that he's a notorious racist who thinks that internment revisionism is great, because after all, why shouldn't one exploit bigotry towards Japanese Americans to generate support for more repressive measures against Arabs and Muslims in the US?
--Richard
by Sefarad Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2005 at 10:44 AM
only Arabs and Muslims fall within the "terrorist" definition ?]
I'd be curious to know what other groups you consider to be "terrorists", given that you have already given a free pass to the US military
as for my view, the term "terrorist", as far the US goes, is a very elastic one, depending upon the circumstances
for now, it suits our purposes to emphasize Arabs as "terrorists", but, say, 10 years from now, the US gets involved in a conflict in Asia, and an underground resistance emerges
then, of course, they will be "terrorists"
fact is, over the last 50 or 60 years, you would be much more likely to die, or be seriously injured, from American, state sponsored violence than violence from any other source, and yet, for some strange reason, this violence is not considered "terrorist", while the violence of these other, non-state sponsored entities is
Examples:
--the slaughter of the communists in Indonesia
--the killing of Vietnamese through the war, the use of Agent Orange and the Phoenix Program
--the killing of Central Americans through American supported death squads in El Salvador and Nicaragua
from my cruising of this website, it seems that all of the articles that you have posted relate to Arabs, Muslims and their violent acts, as if they are the only perpetrators of violence in this world, and constitute the main threat to the safety of people around the world
there's no truth to it, with Iraq being the most recent example
al-Zarqawi would have to try to kill Shias for 20 years to come close to the number of Iraqis killed by US/UK forces
which might explain why the Iraqis frequently say that the occupation must end, despite the violence inflicted upon them by the resistance and Islamic fundamentalists
such a response is a pretty rational assessment of where the greatest threat to their safety lies
--Richard