The sun sets behind the main Palestinian electricity company, Al-Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, in January 2008. The Gaza Strip was hit by major power cuts late on Sunday, threatening a blackout throughout the territory within 24 hours, Palestinian officials said. (AFP/File/Said Khatib)Palestinian Unity Plan Collapses -- Financial Times
Egypt has been forced to postpone a high-profile meeting aimed at ending a long-running conflict between the two largest Palestinian factions, after the Islamist Hamas group said it would not attend the talks.
The meetings were supposed to start in Cairo on Sunday, and lead to the formation of a new Palestinian unity government. Senior Hamas officials blamed the collapse on Fatah, which it said had refused to release Hamas followers from prison. Hamas itself last week released several Fatah prisoners in the Gaza Strip, which it took over last year. The Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority continues to govern the West Bank.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair, the former British prime minister and Middle East quartet peace envoy, urged Barack Obama, the US president-elect, to make the region's peace process a priority after he takes office on January 20.
Mr Blair said negotiations between Israel and Palestine required Mr Obama's "energy, commitment and dedication''. "There is a foundation on which a new American administration and a new Israeli prime minister, with the Palestinians . . . can build."
Read more ....
Palestinian unity talks to resume 'within two weeks': Fatah -- AFP
Hamas Boycotts Reconciliation Talks With Fatah -- NPR
Listen to Hamas -- Haaretz
Egypt delays Palestinian unity talks after new feud -- Reuters
Middle East Negotiators Press Pursuit of a 2-State Solution -- New York Times
The meetings were supposed to start in Cairo on Sunday, and lead to the formation of a new Palestinian unity government. Senior Hamas officials blamed the collapse on Fatah, which it said had refused to release Hamas followers from prison. Hamas itself last week released several Fatah prisoners in the Gaza Strip, which it took over last year. The Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority continues to govern the West Bank.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair, the former British prime minister and Middle East quartet peace envoy, urged Barack Obama, the US president-elect, to make the region's peace process a priority after he takes office on January 20.
Mr Blair said negotiations between Israel and Palestine required Mr Obama's "energy, commitment and dedication''. "There is a foundation on which a new American administration and a new Israeli prime minister, with the Palestinians . . . can build."
Read more ....
More News On Palestian Talks/Israeli Relations
Palestinian unity talks to resume 'within two weeks': Fatah -- AFP
Hamas Boycotts Reconciliation Talks With Fatah -- NPR
Listen to Hamas -- Haaretz
Egypt delays Palestinian unity talks after new feud -- Reuters
Middle East Negotiators Press Pursuit of a 2-State Solution -- New York Times
Mr Blair said negotiations between Israel and Palestine required Mr Obama's "energy, commitment and dedication''. "There is a foundation on which a new American administration and a new Israeli prime minister, with the Palestinians . . . can build."
Read more ....
More News On Palestian Talks/Israeli Relations
Palestinian unity talks to resume 'within two weeks': Fatah -- AFP
Hamas Boycotts Reconciliation Talks With Fatah -- NPR
Listen to Hamas -- Haaretz
Egypt delays Palestinian unity talks after new feud -- Reuters
Middle East Negotiators Press Pursuit of a 2-State Solution -- New York Times
Hamas, Fatah reconciliation becomes impossible mission -- China View
Uncertainty Over Future of Israel-Palestinian Talks -- Los Angeles Times
Rice Fights Peace-process Inertia -- Christian Science Monitor