Israel Continues Effort to Strengthen Abbas
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Israeli media report that Egypt has transferred weapons through Israel to police forces in Gaza controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. It's part of an Israeli decision to strengthen Abbas as he moves to confront Hamas, the Islamist radical party in control of the Palestinian legislature.
RENEE MONTAGNE, Host:
NPR's Linda Gradstein reports.
LINDA GRADSTEIN: Aboul Gheit said Egypt is not giving up on an Israeli/Palestinian peace deal.
AHMED ABOUL GHEIT: The objective is to keep pushing for a viable peace process, building trust between the Israelis and the Palestinians, trying to achieve a breakthrough in the relationship.
GRADSTEIN: At the same news conference, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel is committed to a Palestinian state.
TZIPI LIVNI: And we show division when it comes to this conflict of two states for two people. We show the understanding that stagnation is not the right policy.
GRADSTEIN: Yesterday, Israeli officials announced that Israel will hit back. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.
MARK REGEV: The government has allowed in a very, very careful and surgical way for defensive purposes only. If we see a group of people launching a rocket trying to kill Israeli civilians, they are a legitimate target. And I hope the Palestinian leadership, those moderates on the Palestinian side, understand this is a necessity. You cannot have a situation where your civilian population is open just to attack after attack like ducks in a shooting gallery.
GRADSTEIN: Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad warned a hard-won ceasefire could collapse if Israel resumes attacks in Gaza.
GHAZI HAMAD: We still believe that this agreement is alive and both sides should respect this agreement because it is interest for our people.
GRADSTEIN: Linda Gradstein, NPR News, Jerusalem.
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