U.S. suspends contacts with Hamas-led government

[barb162]

Last update - 07:52 01/04/2006

U.S. suspends contacts with Hamas-led government

By News Agencies

The United States on Friday announced a new policy on contacts with Palestinians that bars dealings with officials of Palestinian government agencies that are controlled by Hamas.

U.S. contacts with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his staff will continue.

The Bush administration had made clear in advance that it would have no dealings with Hamas cabinet ministers because of the organization's refusal to accept Israel's right to exist and embrace international terms for Middle East peace-making.


"We've advised our mission in Jerusalem, as well as other missions around the world that ... there should be no contact between U.S. government officials and PA officials who are under the authority of the prime minister or any other minister in the Hamas-led government. This includes working-level officials in those ministries," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters on Friday.
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http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/701166.html

[FloridaPat]

1. So much for democracy with Palestinians. And * wants the current

head of the Iraq gov't gone. So much for democracy there. And Afghanistan is still a mess. Could this be called a trifecta?

[Scurrilous]

2. China invites Hamas to Beijing

Palestinian Foreign Minister a-Zahar says Chinese envoy to PA has invited him for talks. 'We appreciate this visit, which is considered the first official visit by a foreign diplomat to the new Palestinian government,' he says

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3236254,00.html

<snip>

"Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud a-Zahar said Tuesday he has been invited to visit China next month, the first invitation from a non-Arab state since Hamas’ takeover of the Palestinian government.

Many countries said they will not hold diplomatic contacts with the Hamas government, which was inaugurated last week, because its members have refused to recognize Israel and disarm terror groups."

<snip>

"He announced the planned visit to China after meeting the country’s envoy to the Palestinian Authority, Yang Wei Guo."

<snip>

"Yang did not speak of a-Zahar’s visit to Beijing, but said China respects the “democratic” choice of the Palestinian people. "We discussed relations and join projects, and we hope to continue strengthening cooperation and friendship in the future," he said, adding that China will "continue to support the Palestinians’ struggle to achieve statehood."

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Not quite true

Russia, a non-Arab state, invited Hamas to Moscow back in February. However, to my knowledge, no offical date has been set.

[Scurrilous]

4. China denies inviting Palestinian FM Mahmoud Zahar, of Hamas, for talks

<snip>

"China denied on Tuesday having invited Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Al-Zahar, of Hamas, for talks in Beijing.

The new Palestinian foreign minister had said earlier Tuesday he had been invited to visit China as part of a planned swing through Asia next month.

However, a Chinese diplomatic official said that the Palestinians did not receive any such invitation, and that as of now, China does not have plans to make such an invitation in the future."


more

[Behind the Aegis]

5. How odd...

The same thing happened with Chavez. What is going on?!