Palestinian Unity Talks Dead, Abbas May Dissolve Government
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday that unity government talks with Hamas have failed, and indicated he may dissolve the current government. Making use of his "constitutional powers," Abbas would cite the growing hardships Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist is imposing upon the Palestinians in the form of a Western economic blockade, and initiate early elections. Abbas stressed, however, that he would do everything in his power to avoid full-scale civil war between Hamas and his own Fatah faction. Hamas and Fatah have engaged in deadly street clashes this week, though the violence appeared to be waning Thursday. The Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government accuses Abbas of instigating a coup against its rule on behalf of Israel and the U.S. According to Israel's Ynet, Hamas has put guns in the hands of 600 additional supporters over the past several days as it prepares for what it sees as an inevitable showdown with Fatah.
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