Abbas warned by Shalom
Photo: AFP
Shalom to Abbas: Hamas threatens you
Foreign minister meets Palestinian leader in Tunisia, warns him about Hamas danger; meanwhile, Abbas calls for continued diplomatic contacts, asks Shalom to send regards to PM Sharon
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom met with Mahmoud Abbas in Tunisia Wednesday and warned that Hamas was attempting to destabilize the Palestinian leader’s regime.
Shalom also reiterated a message he has been repeating in talks with world leaders regarding the probable boosting in Hamas’ standing following upcoming Palestinian general elections. Shalom warned the terror group would not agree to disarm even after the elections.
“For us, Hamas is a murderous terror organization,” Shalom told Abbas in the meeting, also attended by Mauritania President Maaouya Ould Sid’ Ahmed Taya.
Meeting in Tunisia
Roee Nahmias, Tunisia
Foreign minister and U.N. secretary general discuss series of issues including border crossings in Gaza, Iran and Israel-U.N. relations; Shalom returns for first time to his country of birth
The foreign minister referred to Hizbullah as an example of a terror group that refused to disarm even after entering the political arena.
Regards to Sharon
During Wednesday’s meeting, Abbas expressed his satisfaction over the recent Gaza crossings deal, finalized after five years.
“We must continue forward toward peace,” he said. “
“Contacts between us mustn’t be curbed after every incident,” the Palestinian leader said, referring to Israel’s tendency to suspend contacts in the wake of terror attacks.
Shalom responded: “We need the Gaza model to succeed, but we cannot agree to a situation where Israelis are murdered in Palestinian terror attacks.”
Both Abbas and Mauritania’s president told Shalom they were glad the meeting was taking place on Tunisian soil and lauded the foreign minister for his efforts to improve ties between Israel and the Arab world.
”Improve your ties with us, too, and it will help the trend of improving your ties with Arab countries. I’m all for it,” Abbas said, and asked Shalom to “send my regards to (Prime Minister) Sharon.”
