Hamas coalition talks under way (Abbas gives his approval) +funding issues

[Wordie]

Posted on Mon, Feb. 20, 2006
Hamas coalition talks under way
IBRAHIM BARZAK
Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas on Monday began coalition talks to form the Palestinians' first government led by Islamic militants after winning the nod from moderate Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

In a meeting Monday evening, Abbas was set to appoint Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' leader in Gaza, as Palestinian prime minister, giving him five weeks put together a government. Abbas directed the Islamic group to lead the next government after it took control of the new Palestinian parliament Saturday.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/13913960.htm

The article said that Hamas was seeking partners for a coalition government, and was holding talks with several smaller Fatah factions, although Fatah leaders had announced they would not join a Hamas government.

The article also discussed the funding crisis:

...On Monday, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference would provide institutional and financial aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. He did not say how much the OIC, the world's largest Islamic group, would give or when it would provide the funds.

...Foreign ministers from several Arab countries, meanwhile, were to meet in Algiers on Monday to discuss a plan to send about $50 million a month to the Palestinian Authority.

Haniyeh said he was "deeply sorry" that Hamas had been labeled a terrorist group by Israel and addressed the funding issue by saying, "We have other Arab and Islamic countries and members of the international community who are ready to stand next to the Palestinian people."

Others who are calling for financial support to the Hamas-led Palestinians are Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and Iran.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I have a question:

since Hamas has been democratically elected in Palestine, does this mean anyone who donates funds that go to the Palestinian government could be "disappeared" by the Bush Administration for supporting a terrorist organization?

[Wordie]

2. I really don't know how the Bush administration

would view any donations supporting the Palestinians. It's a good question, ayeshahaqqiqa.

And a scary issue too, imo.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. I would recommend the Palestine Red Crescent Society

and you can donate using Pay Paq (not Pay Pal) intermediary -

Note that I contribute to , Palestine Red Crescent Society, and the American Red Cross, and my avatar is the optional, non-denominational, non-sectarian "Red Crystal" - and not only have I not been "disappeared" by Bushco - but I actually got my FEMA "Access Authorization" for the next hurricane season. (Bushco and Chertoff will always take you to manage the pandemonium in a shelter, dish out meals, counsel newly homeless PTSD sufferers -- unless they really screwed up the situation themselves as they did in NOLA).

[Wordie]

4. That's admirable, Coastie...but I think you missed ayeshahaqqiqa's point.

The question is that now that Hamas is in control of the Palestinian government, would any aid to the Palestinians be viewed by the Bush folks as aid to a terrorist organization?

It seems outlandish, but then, so many other Bush actions/policies also seem outlandish when it comes to the ME.

[Coastie for Truth]

5. No - I didn't miss her point.

I have contributed to the Palestine Red Crescent Society before FEMA renewed my "Access Authorization" - and the EFT transfer is exactly the kind of thing that they look for. And the "Access Authorization" went through ok.

The pencil point brains who process "National Agency Checks" and "Access Authorizations" look for EFT's to "PayPaq" (not "PayPal") in Canada - because that's how many Palestinian charities get funds from US citizens.

It's relatively trivial to make the conection from "PayPaq" and Palestinian charity to your bank acount or credit card --- routine JOIN in SQL.

[Wordie]

6. Well...I think the issue is whether a donation was made *after* Hamas

took control, not so much when Fatah was in control of the PA. As Hamas is still setting up the government, perhaps we are even now a bit premature, but do you really think a concern is unwarranted? Perhaps "disappeared" is to strong a take on it, but it seems to me that the worry is not unreasonable.

[Wordie]

7. Carter in interview right now on CNN (Blitzer)

He is making the point that the tax money that Israel is withholding belongs to the Palestinians, not Israel.

Said that by punishing Hamas we are creating more suffering among the Palestinian people, making the US appear to be the enemy of the Palestinian people, and strengthening Hamas.

He says the Hamas government can be bypassed and aid money given to the UN to distribute, as a way of resolving the problem.

In response to Cheney's recent statement, Carter said that we should remember that Abbas is still the Prime Minister, and is still there to negotiate, without involving Hamas at all. In a recent visit, he was reminded by Abbas of the ceasefire, which Hamas did honor. Was told by another Palestinian leader that what Hamas wants is a peaceful government. He believes that Hamas will have to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, and that international pressure will ensure that.

Then there was a segment on Al-Zahar (Hamas leader), from several weeks ago, who said that he wanted an Islamic state.

Carter said that he didn't doubt that was what Al-Zahar wants, but that isn't necessarily what the Palestinian people want. He said the Palestinian people don't want sharia law, and won't allow Hamas to establish it.

He has been involved with the Pals and Israel for 30 years and has seen dramatic changes. When he became president, every other gov't was dedicated to Israels destruction, but that has changed now. The PA was orignially dedicated to Israel's destruction, but went on to make agreements with Israel. He thinks its a mistake to give up, and turn the Palestinian people against the west.

Asked about Iran's plans for a nuclear bomb, he said he does think it's the intention of Iran to build a bomb. He thinks it would be a threat to the entire region for Iran to have such a weapon. Thinks we should work with the Russians.

Guantanamo: agree that it should be shut down. Prisoners have never had legal rights. Best thing to do in light of human rights concerns would be to shut it down, as the UN says.

UAE controversy: no particular threat to our security, as it has been vetted by the US government.

Hunting accident: Thinks everyone in the WH probably agrees they would have done better to not conceal it. To conceal it, and to blame Whittington, was a big mistake.
*****

Some of this is not I/P, I realize, but thought people might find the rest of the interview interesting too.