Russian President Vladimir Putin has called upon Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to continue efforts toward renewed dialogue in order to avoid "losing the momentum" created by the implementation of the Disengagement Plan by Israel.
In a letter to President Moshe Katsav and PA leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), the Russian leader calls for continued diplomatic talks between the two, offering Russia as a forum to host an international summit.
At the same time, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called upon Israel to cease putting too much pressure on the Palestinian Authority regarding the Hamas terror organization. He asked Israel not to set the disarming of Hamas as a precondition for the Islamist organization's inclusion in the upcoming PA elections in January. Annan said that so doing would prevent the elections, and this would "harm the pragmatic ones, most of all PA leader Abu Mazen."
Annan made these remarks during a meeting with veteran Knesset Member Yossi Sarid of the left-wing Meretz party. Annan did state that he opposes "armed militias taking part in the parliament and therefore, if Hamas is successful, it must lay down its arms prior to entering government."
Yet, despite these statements from leaders abroad, anarchy continues to rage in the Palestinian Authority, while its leader is currently traveling between France and the United States.
One example of the chronic state of disharmony and lawlessness that continues to prevail in Gaza is another Fatah kidnapping that has been reported in Khan Yunis. Meanwhile, 244 members of Abu Mazen's ruling Fatah faction have announced their resignations in a demonstration of no-confidence in the PA leader.
In addition, earlier this week, hundreds of unemployed PA residents protested outside a Gaza government office, blaming the PA leader for the deteriorating situation.
In a letter to President Moshe Katsav and PA leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), the Russian leader calls for continued diplomatic talks between the two, offering Russia as a forum to host an international summit.
At the same time, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called upon Israel to cease putting too much pressure on the Palestinian Authority regarding the Hamas terror organization. He asked Israel not to set the disarming of Hamas as a precondition for the Islamist organization's inclusion in the upcoming PA elections in January. Annan said that so doing would prevent the elections, and this would "harm the pragmatic ones, most of all PA leader Abu Mazen."
Annan made these remarks during a meeting with veteran Knesset Member Yossi Sarid of the left-wing Meretz party. Annan did state that he opposes "armed militias taking part in the parliament and therefore, if Hamas is successful, it must lay down its arms prior to entering government."
Yet, despite these statements from leaders abroad, anarchy continues to rage in the Palestinian Authority, while its leader is currently traveling between France and the United States.
One example of the chronic state of disharmony and lawlessness that continues to prevail in Gaza is another Fatah kidnapping that has been reported in Khan Yunis. Meanwhile, 244 members of Abu Mazen's ruling Fatah faction have announced their resignations in a demonstration of no-confidence in the PA leader.
In addition, earlier this week, hundreds of unemployed PA residents protested outside a Gaza government office, blaming the PA leader for the deteriorating situation.