Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Abbas says "sorry" ... and praises Chirac

From Jerusalem Post Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World: Oct. 17, 2005 20:30 Updated Oct. 17, 2005 22:26 By ASSOCIATED PRESS PARIS ...

...Abbas, in Paris on his way to a highly awaited trip to Washington, said he was 'sorry' about the killings Sunday by Palestinian gunmen....

The attack near the Gush Etzion settlements was the deadliest since July, and Israel responded with dozens of new checkpoints on major West Bank roads and halting negotiations with the authority.

...The shootings followed Israeli intelligence warnings that Palestinian terrorists, who claim they drove Israel out of Gaza by force, would now shift their focus to the West Bank...

Abbas, on his first trip to Paris since taking office in January, was meeting Chirac to discuss possibilities for Middle East peacemaking since Israel's withdrawal. ...Turning to Chirac, Abbas said he knew that Palestinians could "count on you," praising the French leader as a "friend" of his late predecessor, Yasser Arafat....

No comments: