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Hamas: Obama doesn't represent change
The Jerusalem Post ^ | Jan 23, 2009 | The Jerusalem Post

Posted on 01/22/2009 11:23:42 PM PST by Jet Jaguar

Hamas said Thursday that US President Barack Obama's position toward the Palestinians does not represent change and will lead to the same mistakes as his predecessor, shortly after the new leader made his first public comments on the Gaza crisis since his inauguration. Obama said the cease-fire that recently ended the three week Israeli offensive in Gaza can only hold if Hamas stops firing rockets, Israel completes its withdrawal from Gaza and the US and its allies support an anti-smuggling system that prevents the Palestinian group from rearming.

Beirut-based Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan dismissed the new president's comments, saying "Obama is still on the same path as previous leaders and also will make the same mistakes as Bush that ignited the region instead of bringing stability."

"Obama is insisting on not bringing any change even though his campaign slogan promised to bring change," Hamdan told Al-Jazeera television in an interview. "I don't think this is a very successful step toward dealing with the region, and this will mean the next 4 years will be a failure for the region."

The spokesman said Obama should have talked about the need for Israel not to attack Gaza rather than for Hamas to stop its rocket fire. Meanwhile, Hamas called Thursday for reconciliation with supporters of Fatah leader and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas but insisted on pursuing "resistance" against Israel.

The condition appeared to preclude any agreement with Abbas, who seeks a peace deal with Israel and whose Fatah faction was not among the groups that backed the statement by eight Damascus-based radical Palestinian factions including Hamas. Hamas seized control of Gaza from Fatah by force in 2007 and Fatah set up a rival Palestinian government in the West Bank. It has been conducting peace talks with Israel for more than a year.

The eight factions said they will reject any political reconciliation deals that hinder the "continuity of the resistance" against Israel, a condition Fatah is sure to reject.

Abbas's Prime Minister Salam Fayad made an urgent plea for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, saying the alternative is a permanent rift that will destroy Palestinians' dreams for a state of their own.

"The world would like to help us but everyone says that we should have a national unity government," he said after meeting with donor country representatives in his West Bank office Thursday.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel
KEYWORDS: abbas; bho2009; bho44; bhogwot; fatah; hamdan; obama; osamahamdan; zero

1 posted on 01/22/2009 11:23:43 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar

Don’t worry Hamas. Hitlery will give you whatever you want.


2 posted on 01/22/2009 11:29:27 PM PST by max americana
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To: Jet Jaguar

Impatient buggers ain’t they.


3 posted on 01/22/2009 11:29:34 PM PST by Islander7 (This Atlas is shrugging! ~ I am Joe!)
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To: Jet Jaguar

hamas brought back christian crucifixions. they are about change.


4 posted on 01/22/2009 11:32:55 PM PST by television is just wrong
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To: Jet Jaguar

OK Bambi, let see you sit down with these people and work things out.


5 posted on 01/22/2009 11:41:13 PM PST by oldbrowser
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To: max americana

Just wait Hamas. Things will change when Hillary starts true, peaceful dialogue with you.


6 posted on 01/22/2009 11:43:26 PM PST by Rennes Templar (The Messiah and the Religion of Fleece)
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To: Rennes Templar

While Condi Rice negotiated, Hitlery will appease. Then again, Hitlery’s angle is to backstab Hussein eventually. We shall see...


7 posted on 01/22/2009 11:45:26 PM PST by max americana
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To: oldbrowser

Different sects of evil Islam , Obama’s and Hamas having a disagreement like the Shiites and Sunnis did?


8 posted on 01/23/2009 12:01:28 AM PST by Democrat_media (Socialism will destroy a country economically.Why are Democrats for Socialism?)
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To: Jet Jaguar

“...the statement by eight Damascus-based radical Palestinian factions...”

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/war_on_gaza/2009/01/200911915455957756.html

The coalition was composed of representatives of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the PFLP, Al Saiqa, the Popular Struggle Front, the Revolutionary Communist Party, Palestinian Liberation organisation, Fatah’s ‘Intifada’ faction, and a number of other Palestinian groups.


9 posted on 01/23/2009 12:04:22 AM PST by james500
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To: max americana
No Hamas is merely prescient.

In a year, the entire planet will be saying “Obama is no change.”

10 posted on 01/23/2009 12:04:46 AM PST by Wiseghy ("You want to break this army? Then break your word to it.")
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To: Jet Jaguar
The eight factions said they will reject any political reconciliation deals that hinder the "continuity of the resistance" against Israel

Is the money quote starting to sink into your thick, stupid head yet Barak?

11 posted on 01/23/2009 12:13:06 AM PST by NurdlyPeon (Sarah Palin: Americas last, best hope for survival.)
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To: NurdlyPeon

as you all know Plugs predicted a major crisis (terrorist or not) but implied that his Lord and Master would be subjected to.
Sounds to me like Hamas has their act together,


12 posted on 01/23/2009 12:33:49 AM PST by MissDairyGoodnessVT (Scooters work good in Vermont snow)
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