Ismail Haniyeh has no intention of stepping down

Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas dismissed the Hamas government after the take over of Gaza. However it seems that Ismail Haniyeh intends to keep his position, with a few changes...

“Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, has no intention of stepping down and responded at length live on Al-Jazeera rejecting Abbas’ “hasty” moves saying 96% of Palestinians support a unity government as the best chance for peace and security. He affirmed his democratically elected government would continue functioning and maintain law and order.” (By Stephen Lendman at Thomas Paine's Corner and Atlantic Free Press)

Good news, "Palestinian officials said Monday they will start forming a national unity government in coming days." Bad news: Little problems like "control over the security forces and the fate of Hamas' militia, remain unresolved." (USAToday)

Palestinian Free Voice has details of the plan, "Mahmoud Abbas to Build International Alliance to Defeat the Popular Hamas Movement."

Haniyeh is still calling for "talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to end the crisis", a crisis which Hamas caused, in the Gaza Strip.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon telephoned Israeli, Palestinian and Saudi leaders to urge support of a unity deal among Palestinian factions and appeal for recognition of Israel, his spokeswoman said on Monday. (Haaretz)

I trust Ban Ki-moon more than Kofi Annan, but when he called Palestinians, did he call Fatah? Abbas? What? No call to Hamas? They are going to be offended!

In an amazing act of brazen cruelty, "deposed PA prime minister Ismail Haniyeh's deputy, Ahmed Youssef, called Noam Schalit, father of kidnapped soldier Gilad, on Tuesday." (Jerusalem Post)

"I hope you are at least satisfied with hearing your son's voice," Youssef told Schalit.

Schalit appeared overcome, and said he preferred to speak with Youssef off-camera, Youssef offered him his phone number.

The Quartet held talks in Jerusalem:

The four powers sponsoring the stagnant Middle East peace process met yesterday for the first time since Hamas seized Gaza, a day after a regional summit that produced no major breakthrough.

Special envoys of the EU, Russia, the UN and the US were meeting at the US consulate in Jerusalem. (Taipei Times)

No major breakthrough. That pretty much sums up the situation. Will things get any better when Tony Blair takes over as an international Middle East peace envoy for the Quartet? Probably not.

Things are looking bad in Gaza. Taliban-like rule is taking over, leading toward pure sharia, with women and children suffering more than anyone. Honor killings will be next on their agenda. Be sure to read Mutilation And Killing For Muslim "Honor" - Part 3 of 3, at Western Resistance to see what they are in store for.

This entire situation has the stink of "here we go again, on the road to the same place we've been before, or worse."
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TUES JUNE 26 The Other Less Important War (sarcasm), The Pink Flamingo
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