Hamas West Bank chief urges all factions to hold their fire

[Behind the Aegis]

Hassan Yusif, the jailed head of Hamas in the West Bank, was quoted Wednesday as urging all Palestinian factions as well as Israel to safeguard the brittle calm of recent months.

Yusif is a Hamas candidate for Palestinian parliament in elections scheduled for late January. He has often taken the lead in the armed Islamic movement in enunciating positions of relative moderation with respect to Israel.

Speaking in prison to an Israel Radio reporter, Yusif was quoted as saying that the taadiya obligates all Palestinian factions, and that the groups should maintain a unity of positions on the matter.

Israel should also abide by the taadiya, Yusif added.

... http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/654895.html

[bemildred]

1. Nothing like a political stake to get people interested in "order". nt

[Wordie]

2. Nothing like hope to get people to turn away from violence, as well.nt

I happen to believe that it is the absence of hope that has led to the violence. So, let's both hope that this marks a turning point.

[bemildred]

3. Well, it's certainly odd to think that you can make yourself more secure

by making others less so.

[Wordie]

4. I'm beginning to rely on you as a source of pithy & insightful comments.

I'll have to remember that one.

[bemildred]

5. Don't rely on me, I'm very uneven.

:hi: