U.S. Christians back Israel with petition
More than 100,000 U.S. Christians have signed a petition expressing solidarity with Israel. The petition was organized by Pastor John Hagee’s group Christians United for Israel and was presented March 24 to members of Congress.
It states that “there is no excuse for acts of terrorism against Israel” and “Israel has the same right as every other nation to defend her citizens from such violent attacks.”
The petition goes on to say that its signers pledge to speak out on behalf of their “brothers and sisters in Israel” whenever and wherever necessary “until the attacks stop and they are finally living in peace and security with their neighbors.” — jta
Israel marks 30 years of peace with Egypt
This week marked the 30th anniversary of Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin shaking hands with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat on the White House lawn, a historic agreement that has come to be known in Israel as the “cold peace.”
When the treaty was formalized on March 26, 1979, ordinary Israelis saw not only an end to war with their largest neighbor but also the hope of warm relations with the people next door. Things haven’t quite worked out that way, but over three decades, the frosty relationship has given the two neighbors peace and stability with what was once their most formidable enemy. — ap
Prisoner swap talks not in garbage can
Both Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers said March 22 that talks aimed at freeing Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, held captive by Palestinian militants, are not over, despite last week’s public breakdown of Egyptian-mediated contacts.
After those intensive talks aimed at a prisoner exchange ended, outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Hamas’ demands were excessive and indicated he would turn the matter over to his successor, Benjamin Netanyahu. At a ceremony March 21 marking Schalit’s 1,000th day in captivity, the soldier’s father, Noam, implored Olmert to use his remaining time in office to pursue his son’s release.
Meanwhile, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal was quoted by Italian newspaper La Repubblica as saying that Olmert was trying to threaten Hamas with the specter of Netanyahu, who takes a harder line toward the Palestinians. In the same interview, Mashaal said President Barack Obama was using a “new language” toward the Mideast conflict, and it was only a “matter of time” before Washington opens contacts with Hamas. — ap
Palestinian unity talks to resume
Palestinian factions including the Islamist Hamas party, which rules in Gaza, and the secular Fatah Party headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are scheduled to resume unity talks next week in Egypt, senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath told the French news service AFP and Reuters.
Talks on the formation of a unity government broke off March 19. The sides have been unable to reach agreement on the makeup and program of a unity government, the system for new elections scheduled for next year and the makeup of the Palestinian security forces. — jta