Headline News From The Web April 23rd 2008

When my finger was on the button for Israel:

I was a young law student applying for a part-time internship.
To my amazement, I was soon casting votes at the U.N.
and working for Ariel Sharon.
http://tinyurl.com/49g6b2

Israel Kills Three Palestinian Freedom Fighters :

Israeli occupation troops have killed three Palestinian
resistance members in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday
after fighters attacked a military position near the Erez
border crossing with Israel.
http://tinyurl.com/46rlmw

Hamas: We'll give final response to
truce proposal on Thursday:

Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil also said that Hamas is
considering whether to accept a truce with Israel which
would take effect just in the Gaza Strip.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/976967.html

Silence in Israel on Hamas proposal:

THE Israeli Government says it is not commenting on
an apparent offer by Hamas, relayed by the former
US president Jimmy Carter, of peace in exchange for
an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank
and Gaza.
http://tinyurl.com/53f45g

Abbas says Carter visit lacked
"positive results" :

Carter said after private meetings with Hamas leaders
in Egypt and Syria last week that the Islamist group,
which is shunned by Israel, Abbas and the West,
would accept a peace deal signed by the Palestinian
president if it passed a referendum.
http://tinyurl.com/4jeeo5

Rice: U.S. explicitly warned Carter
not to meet with Hamas :

"The United States is not going to deal with Hamas
and we had certainly told President Carter that we
did not think meeting with Hamas was going to help
further a political settlement between Israel and the
Palestinians."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/977044.html

Israel Strengthens Hamas Leadership:

The one political result of Israel's attacks and sanctions
on Gaza has been that the Hamas leadership, and
particularly Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, have
emerged greatly strengthened.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42079