http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2773977120070727


"In this platform, we are very clear that the armed resistance must come to an end because it has nothing to do with establishing the state," Ashraf al-Ajrami, the Palestinian minister of prisoners affairs, told Reuters.

"Armed resistance and armed struggle are not included in the platform," he said.
[...]
Nimer Hammad, a senior Abbas aide, told Reuters[:]
"There is a peace process and national struggle can come through peaceful means, rather than through rockets and chaos."

Good news. Now let's sit down, talk, and resolve all the problems peacefully.

In the meantime, Israelis have done the following:

Released more than 250 prisoners [link (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/20/wrelease120.xml)]
Have given amnesty to over 100 top murderers from Fatah [link (http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200707/INT20070716b.html)]
Have transferred over 3000 AK-47s to Abbas's government [link (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3430188,00.html)] (and probably other weapons and machinery which they aren't mentioning not to piss off the Israeli right wingers too much)
The deputy PM has stated that the current government is ready to leave most of Judea and Samaria (aka "West Bank") [link (http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/103279.html)]


A quote from the last point:

In my eyes, the occupation of the territories threatens our very existence, our legitimacy and our international standing.


Looks good so far. In the meantime, Ahmedinejad in Iran is doing hist best to prevent Hamas from deradicalizing and giving weapons to Syria and Hizballah.

You gots any comments?

well it is clear the Palestinian government has been bought off by the Israel government...

but than I really don't care, as long as less people die.

lets hope it will work.

Fatah is now guilty of colloborating with the enemy of the Palestinian government. That amounts to treason.

Fatah is now guilty of colloborating with the enemy of the Palestinian government. That amounts to treason.

then hamas can stop collaborate with us by not getting electricity, food water etc.

Here is an interesting take on this:

http://www.hirhome.com/israel/fatah_hamas.htm

btw, I met a Palestinian lady at the airport last night; we were stranded for 7 hours and since she spoke no English, the flight attendant asked for an Arabic speaker to help out; I had a very enlightening seven hours with her. I have to say my admiration for the Palestinians has increased several fold.

Here is an interesting take on this:

http://www.hirhome.com/israel/fatah_hamas.htm

btw, I met a Palestinian lady at the airport last night; we were stranded for 7 hours and since she spoke no English, the flight attendant asked for an Arabic speaker to help out; I had a very enlightening seven hours with her. I have to say my admiration for the Palestinians has increased several fold.

so the lynch of fatah members never was?

so the lynch of fatah members never was?

Frankly, after speaking to this lady, I've realised the problems there are much more complex than what is repeated in the media.:shrug:

There is no black and white distinction between the two parties as we are conditioned to believing.

Frankly, after speaking to this lady, I've realised the problems there are much more complex than what is repeated in the media.:shrug:

There is no black and white distinction between the two parties as we are conditioned to believing.

thats something i have always tried to tell you, never the less you cant call it the fight that never was. there are many differences in the political level between fatah and hamas, and in the streets as well.

thats something i have always tried to tell you, never the less you cant call it the fight that never was. there are many differences in the political level between fatah and hamas, and in the streets as well.

You're talking at the leadership level, but leadership is about politics.

I am talking about the grassroots level.

You're talking at the leadership level, but leadership is about politics.

I am talking about the grassroots level.

so was i.

idiots (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3430834,00.html)

it's good to see you've realized there are nuances, sam.

i'm eager to hear what you've learned

it's good to see you've realized there are nuances, sam.

i'm eager to hear what you've learned

Its rather long and a subjective experience, so I'm going to take some time putting it into words. It was odd listening to a woman who has 5 children (4 of whom are in the US) and a very large family in Palestine, telling me about how much she likesLas Vegas and California. She compared the taste of Florida oranges to the Jaffa oranges and recounted childhood stories of going through lemon, banana and orange orchards redolent with fragrance. She has a permanent resident card but lives in Palestine because it is in her blood. She was surprised to hear that there are Jews who do not wish to kill her family members or destroy her houses (she has lost her home several times and now lives in Ramallah. She does not care if Hamas or Fatah is in power, all she wants is the freedom to move around in her country without checkpoints and soldiers. She told me tales of friends who have died at the checkpoints, the difficulties her children faced in attending school due to the whims of the soldiers and frequent closure of the checkpoints. I asked about the hijab she wore and she said, "will you leave the house without your shirt? Thats what my hijab is to me, I would be embarassed to leave home without it. "

She constantly referred to the Israelis as al-Yahud (the Yahud surround us, they enclose us and control us etc). Why not Israelis? "Because the Israelis are Yahud, everyone knows that" - She was puzzled by the question and could find no significance in the shades of meaning. But she had no ill will towards them. They can live with us; just let us live too. She wasn't educated, but she was funny and sweet; she appeared to have absolutely no anger or rancor, just sadness at the constant destruction and difficulties. And she had many many stories about Palestine. It was bittersweet and sad.

Spock:

then hamas can stop collaborate with us by not getting electricity, food water etc.


??? Your grammar is shit.

Spock:


??? Your grammar is shit.

at least im polite.

Spock:


??? Your grammar is shit.

Irrelevant.:bugeye:

It was odd listening to a woman who has 5 children (4 of whom are in the US) and a very large family in Palestine, telling me about how much she likesLas Vegas and California. She compared the taste of Florida oranges to the Jaffa oranges and recounted childhood stories of going through lemon, banana and orange orchards redolent with fragrance. She has a permanent resident card but lives in Palestine because it is in her blood. She was surprised to hear that there are Jews who do not wish to kill her family members or destroy her houses (she has lost her home several times and now lives in Ramallah. She does not care if Hamas or Fatah is in power, all she wants is the freedom to move around in her country without checkpoints and soldiers. She told me tales of friends who have died at the checkpoints, the difficulties her children faced in attending school due to the whims of the soldiers and frequent closure of the checkpoints. I asked about the hijab she wore and she said, "will you leave the house without your shirt? Thats what my hijab is to me, I would be embarassed to leave home without it. "

She constantly referred to the Israelis as al-Yahud (the Yahud surround us, they enclose us and control us etc). Why not Israelis? "Because the Israelis are Yahud, everyone knows that" - She was puzzled by the question and could find no significance in the shades of meaning. But she had no ill will towards them. They can live with us; just let us live too. She wasn't educated, but she was funny and sweet; she appeared to have absolutely no anger or rancor, just sadness at the constant destruction and difficulties. And she had many many stories about Palestine. It was bittersweet and sad.

Sad, true, and beautifully expressed, Sam.