Israeli Prime Minister « The Irate Nation

Palestinian Leadership angers as Secretary of State praises “Unprecedented Restraint on the Policy of Settlements”

The Palestinian leadership accused the US of caving in over Israeli
settlements after Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, praised Israel
for making concessions.

Having failed to force Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, to meet
US demands for a total settlement freeze, Mrs Clinton switched tack during a
one-day visit to Jerusalem when she called on both sides to resume peace
talks.

“What the Prime Minister has offered in specifics of a restraint on the policy
of settlements . . . is unprecedented,” Mrs Clinton said.

Deal Breaker

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday ordered 13,000 security forces to deploy near the border to enforce a cease-fire agreement with Israel, sources in Abbas' office told CNN.The move came hours after Palestinian militants in Gaza apparently launched nearly a dozen rockets toward Israel.

Abbas also called on the Palestinian factions who previously negotiated the cease-fire to meet again to ensure the agreement holds, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters Sunday.

The Israeli leader said his country will not take immediate action in the wake of the violations.

"Israel is a powerful country that can allow itself to show restraint and to give the cease-fire a chance to be fully implemented," Olmert said.

Hamas' militant wing and the Islamic Jihad militant group claimed responsibility for firing several rockets into Israel after the cease-fire took effect at 6 a.m. (11 p.m. ET Sunday).

In its leaflet, Islamic Jihad said it will "hold our right for resistance as long as Israel continues its aggression." More...