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05 May 2011 10:07

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World: Israeli ambassador to the U.S.: We gotta deal with Hamas? Ugh

  • There is no indication that Hamas is willing to give up terror, recognize Israel or recognize the peace process.
  • Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren • Expressing his country’s frustration with the recent unity deal struck between Hamas and Fatah, the two main political sects in Palestine. Oren makes it clear that he considers Hamas’ new role a major setback for Israel. “Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israeli citizens, at our towns, at our farms,” he noted, “and Hamas is one of the only elements in the Middle East to condemn the US’s action against [Osama] bin Laden.” While he emphasizes that peace is the goal for Israel, Hamas’ new seat at the bargaining table “is extremely difficult for us.” source

06 Jun 2010 11:35

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Politics, World: Israel to UN: We don’t need no stinkin’ international oversight!

  • We are rejecting an international commission. We are discussing with the Obama administration a way in which our inquiry will take place.
  • Israel’s US ambassador, Michael Oren • Regarding the country’s response to the UN’s proposal of an international commission to study what happened during the flotilla incident. Why reject the proposal? “Israel is a democratic nation,” Oren says. “Israel has the ability and the right to investigate itself, not to be investigated by any international board.” But we’re guessing the international board might have slightly less bias in the situation than Israel might. Just a hunch. source