|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
 |
|
 |
World |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Israel sends tough message to Abbas JERUSALEM, Jan 15 (Reuters) Mahmoud Abbas's inauguration to succeed Yasser Arafat on Saturday will be overshadowed by Israel's decision to cut ties with the new Palestinian president after a militant attack that killed six Israelis. "Israel is severing all planned contacts with the Palestinians on all levels, from security to government leadership," a spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said. Palestinian Minister of Negotiation Affairs Saeb Erekat told Reuters that Israeli officials had called him to relay Sharon's decision to Abbas, who has said he wanted to talk militants into ending violence rather than confront them. "I told them that we reject that you hold Abu Mazen responsible because he is not sworn in yet as president," Erekat said, using Abbas's nickname. "The only way to end this vicious cycle of violence is by resuming peace talks and not suspending them." Defying Abbas's calls for non-violence, militants from three Palestinian groups, including one belonging to his Fatah faction, carried out a bombing and shooting attack at the Karni cargo terminal between Israel and Gaza on Thursday. Six Israelis and three Palestinian gunmen were killed in the assault at Gaza's main economic lifeline. It was the deadliest strike by militants in Gaza in a month. Abbas, who is due to be inaugurated as president later on Saturday, condemned the assault and Israeli raids on militants, saying on Friday the violence did not "benefit peace". The United States lined up behind Israel. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
