Abbas: Hamas should be part of PA, honor peace process

[bemildred]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that Hamas should be part of a new Palestinian government and honor international commitments in the peace process.

Abbas said a new cabinet including Hamas should continue the peace process on the basis of previous agreements such as the existence of two states and no more building of settlements in Gaza.

Abbas spoke after meeting Czech President Vaclav Klaus. Efforts to form a unity government have failed in the past. Reconciliation talks are scheduled to begin in Egypt later this week.

Gaza will remain internationally isolated and Hamas will remain sidelined unless it allows Abbas a foothold in Gaza. Abbas has overstayed his term as president, which ended in January, and needs a partnership with Hamas to shore up his dwindling political legitimacy.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1066366.html

[bemildred]

1. UPDATE: Hamas Claims Palestinian Rival Spied For Israel

GAZA CITY (AFP)--Hamas Monday claimed Palestinian Authority agents collaborated with Israel during the Gaza offensive, including using Google Earth to pinpoint targets in the Islamist-run territory.

"With the help of the Google Earth program, those groups prepared maps to localize mosques, institutions, tunnels or workshops," said Abu Abdallah, a senior intelligence officer in the Hamas government, which rules the Gaza Strip.

The targets were then hit by the Israeli air force, he said at a news conference.

Abu Abdallah said the information included plans of the home of the Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya as well as the location of tunnels and weapons caches.

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20090223\ACQDJON200902230933DOWJONESDJONLINE000283.htm">NASDAQ

[azurnoir]

2. Huh?

Abbas said a new cabinet including Hamas should continue the peace process on the basis of previous agreements such as the existence of two states and no more building of settlements in Gaza.

I hope that was misprint or misquote or something

[bemildred]

3. Just a typo, no doubt. nt

[azurnoir]

4. Or Freudian undergarments n/t