zeroday Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 The Norwegian deputy foreign minister has become the first senior European official to hold talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya. This comes a year after Western countries imposed a boycott on a Palestinian government dominated by the militant group, Hamas. Mr Haniya now leads a new government which brings together the rival Hamas and Fatah factions. This was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Palestinian parliament on Saturday. Norway, which is not part of the European Union, immediately recognised the unity government, and said it was lifting an economic and political boycott. After meeting Mr Haniya, Norway's deputy foreign minister, Raymond Johansen, said: "We hope that all the European countries, and even other countries, will support this unity government. "We hope that this unity government will work hard in order to fulfil the expectations from the international community." Mixed reaction The emergence of the unity government has provoked a range or reactions. Israel has said it will not deal with it. US diplomats have said they are prepared to work with certain ministers who are not members of Hamas, while expressing unhappiness that the new government does not recognise Israel. France has invited the new foreign minister to pay a visit, while Britain is signalling some flexibility. BBC Middle East analyst Roger hardy says that Israel fears the mixed reaction to the unity government may be a kind of creeping recognition of Hamas - which, in the end, will legitimise Hamas and its uncompromising stand towards the Jewish state. Norway has been involved in Middle East diplomacy in the past. Palestinians and Israelis negotiated their first interim peace deal in Oslo and signed the accord in Washington in 1993, clearing the way for setting up a Palestinian Authority. Controversial appointment Separately on Monday, Hamas criticised the appointment of a senior figure from the Fatah party, Mohammed Dahlan, as national security adviser. A Hamas spokesman, Salah al-Bardawil, described Mr Dahlan as a provocative personality, and said he should not be permitted to take up his new job while also remaining a member of parliament. He said Hamas would ask Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to reconsider the appointment. Mr Dahlan, a former security chief in Gaza, is known to be a strong opponent of Hamas, and has been involved in frequent verbal clashes with its leaders over the past few months. In other developments: * Reports from Israel said an electricity company employee was shot and injured while he was working inside Israel near the Gaza Strip. The military wing of the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, said it carried out the attack in response to Israeli army operations against Palestinians. * The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said that one of its members was killed in Gaza when explosives he was handling went off accidentally. About 10 other people were injured by the blast at the man's house. Source --- I wander if now Norway will be seen as a terrorist state for recognizing a legitimate government :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valhalla_rk Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=547496 legit? :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeroday Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=547496legit? :rolleyes: Norway certainly thinks so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valhalla_rk Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Good for them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digipoi Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 * The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said that one of its members was killed in Gaza when explosives he was handling went off accidentally. About 10 other people were injured by the blast at the man's house.--- I wander if now Norway will be seen as a terrorist state for recognizing a legitimate government :rolleyes: I don't know but lol @ Palestinian Islamic Jihad group for Darwin award. Hey Al, I wander if people stop supporting terrorists like Hamas, the people of Palestine could be on their merry way to live a decent life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_sphinx_ Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Good to see someone has some sense of integrity in the world. It's really pathetic seeing all countries ganging up on the Palastinian ELECTED government like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeroday Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 Hey Al, I wander if people stop supporting terrorists like Hamas, the people of Palestine could be on their merry way to live a decent life. Yeah right! When Fatah was in power, they didn't bother to take the opportunity, and demanded things like "reign in the militants" even though they knew he had no control over them. Then they have a *democratic* election, and no one likes the results, so they decide to collectively punish the whole population, including those who voted against Hamas. Now they unite again, the Israel and the US are agitated about it. Too bad they didn't use the opportunity when they had the chance. The Palestinians want peace as well (zomg teh shockz) but until their international rights to their lands and homes are re-established, you wont see any change in policy from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boffa Jones Veteran Posted March 19, 2007 Veteran Share Posted March 19, 2007 Yeah right! When Fatah was in power, they didn't bother to take the opportunity, and demanded things like "reign in the militants" even though they knew he had no control over them. Then they have a *democratic* election, and no one likes the results, so they decide to collectively punish the whole population, including those who voted against Hamas. Now they unite again, the Israel and the US are agitated about it. Too bad they didn't use the opportunity when they had the chance. The Palestinians want peace as well (zomg teh shockz) but until their international rights to their lands and homes are re-established, you wont see any change in policy from them. It crazy that the whole population is being punished for voting in Hamas. Also it seems a bit harsh that no other countries are trying to help the palestinians get their land rights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digipoi Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Yeah right! When Fatah was in power, they didn't bother to take the opportunity, and demanded things like "reign in the militants" even though they knew he had no control over them. Then they have a *democratic* election, and no one likes the results, so they decide to collectively punish the whole population, including those who voted against Hamas. Now they unite again, the Israel and the US are agitated about it. Too bad they didn't use the opportunity when they had the chance. The Palestinians want peace as well (zomg teh shockz) but until their international rights to their lands and homes are re-established, you wont see any change in policy from them. The answer to your confusion is quite easy. Just because you hold democratic elections, doesn't mean electing terrorists are acceptable. What does it tell you if no one else will support this newly elected government but Norwedgy? Time to overthrow Norwedgy? Good answer but we will wait and see. Your last statement says it all. If Israel no longer exists, then we will accept Israel :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boffa Jones Veteran Posted March 20, 2007 Veteran Share Posted March 20, 2007 Your last statement says it all. If Israel no longer exists, then we will accept Israel :| One would hope that if they were given their own non contested landbase and were completely sovereign over it things may be different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacemf Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 norway supports all terrorists i think they are trying to improve their economy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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