All Hamas Government Is Put To Abbas for His Approval

RAFAH, Gaza Strip – Israel, Palestinian Arab, and American negotiators failed yesterday to resolve a border crossing crisis that has caused shortages of vital food products in Gaza, but Palestinian Arabs were hopeful the main cargo crossings could open after more meetings today.Palestinian Arab economic misery was likely to deepen as Hamas terrorists sworn to Israel’s destruction presented their new Cabinet to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The Islamic group’s failure to bring moderate forces into its government is likely to strengthen Western resolve to cut off desperately needed aid.American officials called an emergency meeting yesterday with the Palestinians and Israelis to try to resolve the border crossing standoff, saying Palestinian Arab humanitarian needs must be addressed.The vital Karni cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza has been closed for most of the past two months, shutting down almost all exports and imports for the poverty-stricken seaside territory. Palestinian Arabs charge Israel is punishing them for the Hamas victory, but Israel insists it is keeping the crossing shut because of warnings of terror attacks.The lengthy shutdown has led to shortages of flour and milk, among other products, and bakeries are closing, U.N. workers said.A Palestinian Arab negotiator, Saeb Erekat, who participated in the meeting at American Ambassador Richard Jones’s residence, said a solution was emerging for reopening the Karni crossing for goods to flow in and out of Gaza through Israel, and for activating another crossing, Kerem Shalom at the convergence of Gaza, Israel, and Egypt, for shipments to Gaza from Egypt.Mr. Erekat said the sides would hold two more meetings today.“I hope they will succeed in allowing goods to come into Gaza as of tomorrow to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza,” he told the Associated Press. He said Egyptian trucks were already lining up across from Kerem Shalom.An Israeli negotiator, Amos Gilad, demanded that Palestinian Arabs arrest terrorists before the Karni crossing is reopened, Israeli officials said.The spokesman for the American Embassy said he had no information about the outcome of the meeting.Under an agreement brokered by Secretary of State Rice in November, Israel and the Palestinian Arabs agreed to boost cargo traffic through the crossing. The accord was meant to give momentum to peace efforts and economic recovery programs after Israel’s summer pullout from Gaza.But the Karni deal was never implemented, and Israel has closed the crossing for long periods, citing security concerns.During Karni’s closure, Israel has offered to open Kerem Shalom, 25 miles south of Karni, as an alternative crossing. But the Palestinian Arabs have rejected that up to now, saying it is too small and is completely inside Israeli territory.“We’d like Karni to be fully functioning as soon as possible … The only reason Karni is closed is the definite terror warnings,” an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mark Regev, said. “We don’t understand why the Palestinians refuse to have the Kerem Shalom crossing open to bring in required and needed produce into Gaza.”Yesterday evening, incoming Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh met with Mr. Abbas to outline his Cabinet. Mr. Abbas told reporters beforehand that he would review the names but would not decide immediately whether to accept the list. As president, he has the authority to demand changes.Mr. Abbas, who favors negotiating a final peace settlement with Israel, has urged Hamas to moderate its violent ideology but likely will approve the Cabinet, his aides say. He will, however, warn Hamas that its refusal to soften its positions could hurt the Palestinian Arabs’ international standing.

All Hamas Government Is Put To Abbas for His Approval

All Hamas Government Is Put To Abbas for His Approval

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