Quislings, Dhimmis and Islamic Terrorists

From the ACLJ:

The list of people supporting the Ground Zero mosque:

President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and Hamas.

Something's wrong with this picture.

Obama's buddies involved in Hamas Flotilla

Obama's 'friends in the neighborhood' - Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn - are at the heart of the horror that just took place on the Hamas ships attempting to smash through the Israeli embargo of Gaza. As is quite clear, since these aging Weathermen can no longer launch bombs to kill American servicemen here, they've simply gone overseas to launch them against Israelis in Gaza.

Ayers and Dorhn - living proof that the 'neighborhood' of hate has no boundaries.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/ayers-dohrn-helped-organize-flotilla-group-95435639.html

THE GAZA FLOTILLA WAS NO "LOVE BOAT"

Truth vs. Taqiyya

The Gaza Flotilla was no “Love Boat”


On Wednesday, ACT! for America President Brigitte Gabriel wrote an op-ed that has appeared in at least two online publications. You can read it below.

Brigitte is also doing numerous radio interviews and will likely be doing some TV interviews as well.

In addition, a statement issued yesterday from the Israeli Prime Minister is a must-read for anyone who wants to know what the “international community” and the “establishment press” won’t tell you.

The leadership of ACT! for America understands very well that Israel is on the front lines in the struggle against radical Islam and global jihad. This is why Brigitte is doing what she can to get the truth out and why we are notifying members in selected states about pro-Israel rallies.

Radical Islamists are more than willing to deceive the gullible because they believe they are in a war against the “infidels,” and that sharia law sanctions this “taqiyya.”

Whether it’s Islamists claiming they are merely “humanitarians”…or the “Ground Zero Mosque” imam cooing in English about “interfaith dialogue” while he rejects such dialogue to Arabic-speaking audiences…or the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) claiming it is a “human rights organization” when in fact it is an American propaganda group for the terrorist organization Hamas…

…Americans need to wake up to the realities of taqiyya.


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Jihad in humanitarian clothing

By Brigitte Gabriel | Published: 06/03/10 at 12:00 AM | Updated: 06/03/10 at 1:26 PM




As world organizations, nations and international media rally together in their favorite cause célèbre of vilifying Israel the Gaza flotilla attack, the country finds itself again on the defensive, trying to explain to the world why it instituted the blockade of Gaza and what part the terrorist organization Hamas is playing in that blockade.

Hamas’ stated goal is to wipe Israel off the map. In fact, in Palestinian schoolbooks and maps Israel is nonexistent. Hamas has many sympathizers who share its goals politically and ideologically, most notably al-Qaida and Iran. Both are welcomed in Gaza with open arms and are creative in supporting Hamas and smuggling weapons in support of their holy war against the Jewish state. This latest incident, though, sheds light on another ally of the terrorist group, the Turkish-based International Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH).

So who are these poor “humanitarian” activists Israel tried to stop on the flotilla?

IHH is an associate of Hamas and a member of the Union of the Good. This Union is headed by Yousef Al Qaradawi, one of the world’s most notorious Islamic terrorists (banned in England and America) and leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. IHH was already involved in the purchasing of automatic weapons from other militant Islamic groups as far back as 1990 when their President Bulent Yildrim was focused on recruiting “Veteran soldiers in anticipation of the coming Holy war [jihad].”

Simply put, IHH is a jihadist group cloaked in a humanitarian outfit. It has played important roles in terrorist operations such as the Millennium bomb plot and has been involved in weapons trafficking.

Israel, well informed of IHH’s background and activities, tried speaking to the group before they left the dock and then again while at sea. In an attempt to avoid confrontation, they hoped to persuade the IHH Flotilla to change direction and dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection before delivering the goods to Gaza. Israel had nothing to gain from a confrontation – but the IHH did, which explains why its members wrote their wills preparing for martyrdom before departure. As one member of the group put it: “We are going to have one of two victories. We either get to Gaza or get martyrdom.”

These “humanitarians” are jihadists on a mission from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait and Bahrain. They even brought their young children on board fully knowing that this would produce an international media blitz demonizing Israel and distracting the world from the real story.

The lesson here is that Islamists and jihadists have become masters of media manipulation, a task made easy by the degree of willful blindness, naiveté’, and political correctness so epidemic in the media and among world leaders. They have had decades of practice to learn how willfully gullible much of the Western press is when it comes to their alleged grievances and their claims of victimization – especially when it comes to Israel.

I witnessed this growing up in a bomb shelter in Lebanon watching media reports that never seemed to line up with what we Christians in Lebanon were experiencing at the hands of militant Muslims. I saw this again as news anchor of World News for Middle East Television in the 1980s, as I reported on the rise of Islamic terrorism.

Today, Islamists are emboldened by a U.S. administration that is incapable of correctly defining “jihad” and has made clear by its actions that it sees Israel as the principal roadblock to peace in the Mideast. Islamists expect the very response they are now getting from much of the world community, the media, and the Obama administration in the wake of the Gaza Flotilla incident.

With so much “positive reinforcement,” expect more belligerent acts from Hamas and its friends in the weeks and months to come.

Brigitte Gabriel is a terrorism analyst and Two Times New York Best Selling author of “Because They Hate” and “They Must Be Stopped”. She is President and CEO of ACT for America.org



Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/06/03/jihad-in-humanitarian-clothing/#ixzz0ptROpWE4

Hamas, in their own words, Video

Hamas, in their own words

HAMAS RALLIES AT MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL

HAMAS RALLIES AT MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL



source: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/02/022713.php

How I Survived Gaza by Golani Brigade Soldier

Eleven days ago today, Israel terminated an operation after having reached a state of cease-fire with a cowardly and murderous foe. We pulled out of Gaza. I pulled out of Gaza.


We were first called up on a Shabbat, right at the end of ten months of regular training and an extra two months of specialized training with the whole brigade in the Golan Heights. We were told that Israel was preparing for a possible conflict with Gaza. We were allowed to stay in phone contact at the beginning, and we listened for news from our families, always better informed than the army. We heard the bombs falling near the Strip, and readied our gear. And we waited. And waited. Every day another rumor came in.

“We’re going today”

“We’re going today”

We waited a week.

We were sent the following Shabbat.

The first time we came back out, after twenty four hours, our unit was under the impression that all the other units would be coming out as well. A little R & R, and then back in. But only our soldiers arrived at the base. The others were in till the very end.

The next two weeks we were deployed over and over again into neighborhoods whose names are ingrained as if from childhood memory, and we were told to ready ourselves for the final operational steps the army was preparing.

Thank God, for us, those steps never came. After fighting through less densely packed urban neighborhoods and villages, as an army, we never had to enter the tightly packed urban nightmares of the inner cities.

“The world is already trying to fault Israel, telling everyone that civilians died, and Israelis murdered. But I was there. I saw the twelve year olds with missiles and RPGs strapped to their backs. We watched in anger as our bombs, so as not to fall on large civilian centers, fell on our own troops.”
A cease-fire was signed, and we pulled out with hatches open on our vehicles, waving flags and flashing the peace symbol even though no one was there to photograph it. After all, we were one of hundreds of squads returning. There was no way to record every tank and APC that came home. But it was cathartic, and made it official.

I saw many things. I heard things. While I was in Gaza.

I saw soldiers who were virulently anti-religious don tzitit under their bullet-proof armor. As one soldier said, “Why do I put it on now, if I never wore it before? When do you ask your father for help? When you need it.”

I saw heroes. Boys just out of high-school, young men who should have been playing sports or starting families or going to college, loading weapons and placing armor on their fragile frames, securing helmets, and checking gear.

They suppressed the fear that lurked at the edges of their minds, and as a unit swept across the fence and planted unwavering lines of boots in the soil of Gaza. I watched them fight like grown men against evil.

The first night we went in, we were unable to wear bullet-proof armor in my unit, and had to settle for flak vests (we couldn’t wear armor when we first went in because, due to the weight we were carrying, it would have hampered our movements, creating a safety hazard). My young commander, who had an easy load to carry that wouldn’t interfere with his vest, still left without bulletproof armor. “If my men don’t, I don’t”. I told him the next day, I would have followed him through the entire Arab world if need be, my respect for him was so great. I saw my brave wife, Chana, who came down to volunteer, just to be close to me, braving rockets and missiles, and watched her help soldiers by handing out desperately needed winter gear and food. I watched Chabadniks who came to us every day and inspired the soldiers with song and mitzvot. I saw heroes praying for our safety, and feeding us, and caring for us.

I saw pain. Just today, I ran into yet another friend from another unit, who tells me, when asked how he is, “I am fine from the neck down.” Sixteen of his friends were injured in a blast on the first night. He lost many more before the end. He is still sweet, still charming, but his laugh is more weary, and his eyes are sadder. Another friend in a different unit lost two-thirds of his whole platoon when a bomb destroyed their house. He says he walked in, and he saw limbs moving or laying still, and bodies unattached to them, hurting, dead. He still hasn’t pulled back completely. A former commander of mine died, and a friend lost his arm and use of his legs, and is still in a coma.


I saw lies. The world is already trying to fault Israel, telling everyone that civilians died, and Israelis murdered. But I was there. My feet were on the ground and I saw the truth. I saw that warnings were given, I saw the enemy that fought us. I saw the twelve year olds with missiles and RPGs strapped to their backs. I saw that it was with sadness and great anger Israeli troops recognized the need to fire on people who crossed the red line, the danger zone which meant they saw us, and knew where we were. Old people mined with bombs, children armed with detonators, tunnels that opened in the ground to swallow our soldiers. I watched my commanders passing out all of our food to the children who were taken prisoner. I received the commands “closed to fire on the right” if our intelligence had reported civilians in the area. I watched us, more often then not, taking cover when supposed civilian positions fired on us from “the right”. Yet the world thinks it can bend the truth. We were
not allowed to fire on schools. We were told not to loot. We watched in anger as our bombs, so as not to fall on large civilian centers, fell on our own troops, so that we could tell the world we were attempting to scare the enemy while limiting civilian losses.

Yet they won’t say that in the press.

You are the reason we returned. You are the reason I am alive.

I saw cowardice. We listened with concern when Hamas threatened to use snipers and bombs on us, to fight us every step of the way with their fifteen thousand man army, and we watched videos of full brigades parading, waving their weapons and threatening Israel. But as we invaded, they fled.

They would attack in small groups, hit us with missiles and sniper fire, and then flee. The ‘warriors’ of Hamas were brave when their rockets fell unanswered on the schools of children and the homes of elderly, but they did not stand when the enemy called them up to answer for their crimes.

I saw miracles. Rockets that blazed past our houses, bullets that scarred the outside of windows we were watching from. A unit near ours that was walking in to Gaza had RPGs pass straight between their ranks without hitting a single soldier. Mines that didn’t explode, mortar rounds that landed next to friends that didn’t explode. RPGs that blazed into the earthen barrier directly in front of our APC, detonating before penetration.

The night walk through a neighborhood that wasn’t on the map, that was full of snipers and mines according to reports, that we walked through unawares, by accident, without harm or incident. And that was just what we knew.

I felt fear. Every time I entered, every time I squeezed the trigger, every time a missile landed nearby, I was struck with fear. It is a deep fear, hard to explain. Your body shivers as if you are frozen to the core. You find yourself staring at the ground, trying to adjust to the ringing in your ears. You freeze, and unless someone slaps you, or you manage to shake yourself, your eyes stay downcast, and you lay numb on the earth, waiting without realizing. Eventually, your training pulls you out and forces you to stay alert, your gun snaps up, and adrenaline masks the fear and hurt. You roll on seemingly fearless, with adrenaline telling you that you are invincible.

I have felt weakness. I have felt my supposedly mighty muscles shudder, felt my devastatingly powerful weapon shake in my hands, felt my heart hammer against my armor, felt my soul and mind search for some way to avoid pain and the nightmares that were becoming real.

I felt strength. I would have been lost, but for the words of my Rebbe. “Ein od Milvado” There is no one but Him. The mere utterance strengthened limbs, and a surge of faith and hope carried me through the invasion, through the detonations and whistling of ricocheting rounds and falling bombs. For I knew, for once KNEW and understood absolutely that I was in the hands of the greatest general on earth. A veteran of every war and every conflict, the ultimate warrior and defender of His people. I remember the joy that swept through the lines when they said the head commander was entering the field, because of his experience and strategies, everyone felt safer. It reminded me that an even greater Commander had been there all along. I understood the words of Tehilim 147, “Not in the strength of the horse does He desire, and not in the legs of man does He favor. God favors those who fear Him, those who hope for His kindness.” My strength had failed me, yet when I begged God to allow me to
be a conduit for His strength, to be His shield and a sword for His people, I was able to stand and fight. Those nights, my body was there, but God fought on that field.

I am not free of sin, and was by no means worthy of the miracles that befell me. That God aided me; that my entire battalion walked out, against all odds, while every other unit suffered losses, without serious casualty or mental scarring, was a miracle beyond any. That I was able to feel His strength replace mine, a gift for which I was undeserving.

My strength lay in the thousands of people who prayed for me, who prayed for the wellbeing of the army, who cried for the return of the fragile and precious Jewish youth who fought like lions where men twice their age would have fled. You are the reason we returned. You are the reason I am alive.

You, the people who pray and cry and feel you are not the front lines, are truly the army of Hashem. The IDF, as people should see, is merely the physical arm of what your prayers accomplish. You are the ones in the battle. We are the holding action, delaying the physical evil while you battle to clear the path for Moshiach. Never again will I feel a yeshiva student who learns all day is not brave for not being with us on this field.

Because I watched the words and letters that he learned and prayed march ahead of us, thousands deep, and millions strong, absorbing the bullets and metal meant for me. I thank you, humbly, warriors of my heart and faith. You let me come home to my wife.

During this war, we received a tremendous outpouring of love and support; letters, donations, food, and clothing. In specific, because I know them, although without diminishing the greatness of all the people I don’t know, I want to thank my mother and her tireless blogging efforts, my family for their support and letters, my wife for being brave beyond any woman or man I have ever known.

I want to thank Congregation Tiferes Yisroel for remembering an old neighborhood kid, and multiplying that to help all my brothers in uniform. I want to thank all of the community in Baltimore for the davening and love that we felt even in the heart of darkness.

I want to thank the little six-year old who wrote, “Dear IDF, I am proud of you.” I cried over that letter, my tears running through the pain and stress as we recovered from Gaza.

I want to thank the people who donated money for the vests that saved our lives, the people that gave us clothes to warm our bodies, candy to warm our hearts, and letters to warm our souls. You cannot know what one pair of socks, one chocolate bar, or one hastily written sentence can do to save the minds and hearts of your children from despair.

I am not as gifted with words as my mother, nor a hero as great as those who marched beside me or filled the air with prayer around me, but I hope from this letter, from my fumbling thoughts you can draw for yourself the love and hope I am trying to convey.

I have seen this people, my people, at its best and at its worst. I can see why Redemption will come soon. As a nation, we drew together. Disunity, differences in Kippot or sects fell away, and everyone reached out to help as best they could. No one said, “I have no part” or “This isn’t my war”.

May Hashem see the greatness of His holy, beautiful people, and allow me to sing that old song to my child, with absolute truth and great joy: “I promise, my little one, that this is the last war.”

Joshua Eastman made aliyah from Baltimore in 2005. He met his wife, Chana, on a trip back to Baltimore; and the two of them live in Givat Ze’ev. Joshua is currently a full-time soldier in the Golani Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. When he can get near a computer, he blogs about his life in Israel at “Through Josh-Colored Glasses,”






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O'Bama Barf Bag!!!

Help! Help! That paperbag from the grocery store just is not large enough to hold the contents of my stomach today as I aread about the goins on of the Obambies and Obamabots and the assorted perverts and folks with no taste or conscience:http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/01/19/obama_nation/

http://gto7.wordpress.com/ scroll down to ALL these different stories and more.
1) Hamas Inauguration
2) Mass Media Schizophrenia
3) ANTI-TERROR bosses last night hailed their latest ally in the war on terror — the BLACK DEATH.
4) Awareness Campaign on Terrorism during Obama Parade on Jan 20th at DC.
5) ‘Pig sex’ orgy set for inaugural week *gag, chock*

THANK YOU TRACY!

America, is this the world you want to leave for your children? SPEAK OUT, SPEAK UP! the Leftist scum is emboldened by your silence and will not stop unti every perversity in the world, and many you can not even imagine will be demanded to be accepted! and criminalilzed if Not accepted! The Obama regime is already talking about "PERCEIVED" hate crimes! This while they allow REAL hate crimes on the streets of U.S. cities by the terrorist group Hamas and their useful idiot American leftoid supporters! WAKE UP!!

New York City Pro Israel Rally Draws Thousands!!

New York City Pro-Israel Rally Draws Thousands!!
Meanwhile, An Israeli Subjected to Hamas Rocket
Attacks Emails Us

Dear Friends,

Late yesterday we received an email from New York and an email from Israel, their common thread being Israel’s defense against the terrorist organization Hamas and its rocket attacks.

We have reprinted the short email from the Israeli, whose name has been removed, in the exact form we received it.

Beneath that you will find a report sent to us by our New York Metro ACT! for America chapter leader regarding yesterday’s pro-Israel rally in New York City.

We in ACT! for America want to make it clear that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the democratic nation of Israel as it resists the terror and tyranny of radical Islam. We in America must never forget that Israel is on the front lines in this conflict.


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My name is [name removed] and i live in Ashdod, Israel.

As you probably know, 11 days ago Israel finally started to take action in Gaza strip in order to defend itself and it's citizens. It must be said that Israel's actions are the response to the violent nature of the actions and threats of Hamas against us.

For 11 days now, my city, along with other cities in the region of southern Israel have been and are being attacked and bombed by Hamas. Together, we are a milion people under the threat of being bombed.

What we do today, what I do today, is standing against the missiles of Hamas, a thing which i have never had to do before, so my Israeli fellows that have been suffering from it for years will be able to live in peace. A real peace, and not just a cease-fire for Hamas to take advantage of to get armed. We suffer now so our Israeli brothers can live in peace, AND so missiles won't ever become "routine" in our cities too. What we don't do today, will cost us tomorrow.

As a citizen of a western country (Israel of course), i have been surprised to see the huge hypocrisy shown by the western world during these 11 days. Protests and demonstration against Israel and it's actions all over the world, comparing us to the Nazis and calling us murderers. All that from the people who have ignored the violent nature of Hamas and it's actions and attacks against Israeli CITIZENS for years and years.

That being said, i'd like to thank you and your organization for your support and right view of reality. It's important to me and other Israelis to know that there are sane voices out there too.

And a personal message for Brigitte Gabriel:

I joined your website and organization after listening to your speeches on Youtube. As i know your story, i know u understand that what we are doing today is defending our home. Hamas, just like the radicals in Lebanon, has no tolerance and doesn't want to live in peace with us. Hamas's wish, in the good case, is to throw us to the sea. To take the onlyplace i know as HOME away from me. And neither me nor the Israeli people will stand that kind of wish.

So from the Israeli people and country - Thank you.


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The "Support Israel" rally today which was co-sponsored by ACT! New York Chapter was hugely successful. One estimate is that there were 10,000 people out in the frigid New York Street - Christians, Hindus, Jews - who knows who else. The police were outstandingly cooperative -- as they usually are. They expanded the protective barricades out into 2nd Avenue as the crowds swelled.

I'VE RECEIVED REPORTS THAT THE RALLY WAS EXTENSIVELY COVERED BY THE TV NEWS OUTLETS.

We hope that the Israelis got the message: WE SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR WAR AGAINST ISLAMIC TERROR!

Scattered somewhere in the crowd were enclaves of our members. We will be there again at the "MAJOR" Rally which is being scheduled for this coming Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. Plan on attending! More info as it becomes available!










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ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
www.actforamerica.org

Arab Leaders, Civilians Blame HAMAS for Gaza Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 30, 2008
Contact:
Marcus Sheff: 011-972-2-6236427, marcuss@theisraelproject.org
Leah Soibel: 011-972-2-6236427, leahs@theisraelproject.org
www.theisraelproject.org

Arab Leaders, Civilians Blame Hamas for Gaza Violence
Israeli City of Beersheba Hit by Gaza Rockets

Alert: The conference call with former UN Amb. Danny Gillerman scheduled for Dec. 31, 2008 has been postponed. Details to follow.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Sallai Meridor MP3 recording (Dec. 30conference call)Israeli Govt. Spokesman Mark Regev transcript and MP3 recording (Dec. 29 conference call)Royalty-free photos Video: Palestinian girl says Hamas responsible for war Videos from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs IDF YouTube Channel Humanitarian Aid into Gaza List of Sderot and Area Contacts Available for Comment
Iran Press Kit


Sderot home hit by a rocket fired from Gaza
(Yehuda Peretz for The Israel Project)
UPDATE: Iran-backed Palestinian terrorists in Gaza launched two rockets at the Israeli city of Beersheba Tuesday (Dec 30). One of the rockets struck a kindergarten. Beersheba - which lies 26 miles (42 km) from Gaza - is the easternmost Israeli city ever hit by Gaza rockets. [1]

As Israel carries out "Operation Cast Lead" to stop Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza from continuing to attack Israeli civilians with thousands of rockets, missiles and mortars, Arab leaders such as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have blamed Hamas for the violence in Gaza.

Abbas and Mubarak, among others, said maintaining the truce could have helped the Palestinians avoid the Israeli raids and that Hamas is fully responsible for the situation.
Palestinian Authority Leaders and Gaza Civilians

On Dec. 28, 2008, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Iran-backed Hamas could have avoided the Israeli attacks on Gaza and blamed the group for Israel taking action to stop the attacks by Hamas in Gaza: "We talked to them and we told them 'please, we ask you, do not end the truce. Let the truce continue and not stop' so that we could have avoided what happened." [2] Abbas further stated that the priority was to restore the truce [3]

A Palestinian girl in Gaza whose family members died in Gaza Dec. 28 in an Israeli air attack held Hamas responsible. "I say Hamas is the cause, in the first place, of all wars," the girl told Palestinian TV. [4]


MEDIA SHOW BIZ! A Palestinian journalist in Gaza said members of the Palestinian media are 'directing' civilians to cry and telling them what to say in interviews: "A mother of one of the martyrs stood by the door of the intensive care unit while crying... relatives and those around her were telling her what she should say to the television cameras: 'Say your son [before he died] prayed and went out.' Another tells her: 'Curse the Arab leaders'... The journalists [in the hospitals] are going overboard in their insensitivity and taking advantage of the [difficult] moments, with the explanation that they are showing this to the world. One cameraman told a mourning mother: 'Hit your face, cry, do some action.'" [5]




Abbas also blamed Hamas for disrupting national unity talks that could have paved the way for general and presidential elections. While visiting Cairo to discuss Egyptian and Arab League efforts to put an end to the violence in Gaza, Abbas said: "We have warned of this grave danger." [6]
Nimr Hammad, an advisor to Abbas, said: "The one responsible for the massacre is Hamas […]." He called upon Hamas's leaders to stop carrying out "operations, which reflect recklessness, such as the firing of missiles." [7]
Hafez Al-Barghouthi, editor of the PLO daily al-Hayat al-Jadida criticized Hamas for not prolonging the 'tahdiah' - Arabic for 'calm': "Prolonging the tahdiah was a supreme national interest. Why hasn't [Hamas] prevented the aggression and the massacre? How many times have we written and Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) has declared that these missiles [that Hamas is firing at Israel] as ineffective and contrary to the supreme national interest […]." [8]
Egypt and Jordan


On Dec. 23, 2008, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. Both leaders strongly criticized Hamas and held the movement responsible for the current violence in Gaza. The two leaders agreed that the rocket attacks on Israel were a "mistake" and said Hamas was responsible for the ongoing suffering of the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. [9]


A PA official quoted Mubarak: "President Mubarak is very angry with Hamas. The Egyptians see Hamas as a threat to stability in the region." [10]


Egypt, which has taken on the role of mediator between Israel and the Palestinians as well as between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah faction, has been criticized for coordinating with Israel to close the border between Gaza and Egypt. [11] On Dec. 27, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing to receive wounded Palestinians but Hamas called on Egypt to open its border with Gaza forever and for all residents, not just the wounded. [12]


Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu al-Gheit said Egypt has warned Hamas that Israel would initiate operations against Hamas unless Hamas stops its Qassam rocket attacks. He added that those who did not heed the warning "should bear the responsibility." He further said Egypt had predicted Israel's response to the attacks "because Hamas did not stop firing rockets into Israel." [13]


Al-Gheit said Hamas was not allowing wounded Palestinians to cross the border into Egypt for treatment: "We are waiting for the wounded Palestinians to cross. They are not being allowed to cross." Asked who was to blame, he refered to Gaza by saying, "Ask the party in control on the ground in Gaza." [14]


Egypt and other Western-allied Sunni Arab states are opposed to the terrorist organizations Hamas and Hizballah, as they see both groups as extensions of Shiite Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the silence of some Arab countries and said: "Worse than this catastrophe is the encouraging silence of some Arab countries who claim to be Muslim," apparently in a reference to Egypt and Jordan. [15] Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab states recognizing Israel's independence and which have diplomatic relations with it. [16]
Arab nations' summit


ISRAEL AT FAULT. Arab foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Cairo on Jan. 2, 2009 under the auspices of the Arab League to "formulate the Arab position to deal with Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip," Arab League Chairman Amr Moussa said on Dec. 27, 2008. At the upcoming meeting, "some will call on Egypt and Jordan to cut diplomatic relations with Israel," said Abdel Monem Said Ali of the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies. [17]
_______________________________________________________________________________

Footnotes:

[1] JPost.com staff; Selig, Abe, "Widening range, rockets strike Beersheba kindergarten," The Jerusalem Post, Dec. 30, 2008, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456524549&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull; "International call for Gaza truce," BBC News

[2] Shahine, Alaa: "Palestinians could have avoided Gaza raids – Abbas," Reuters, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LS259958.htm

[3] "Abbas blames Hamas for failing to avert violence," Reuters, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.france24.com/en/20081228-abbas-says-he-tried-continue-truce-avoid-violence-gaza-israel


[4] "A Palestinian girl whose family members were killed yesterday in Gaza," Palestinian Media Watch Bulletin, Dec. 2008, http://www.pmw.org.il/Bulletins_Dec2008.htm#b2912083

[5] Ibid.

[6] "Abbas blames Hamas for Gaza bloodshed," The Nation, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/29-Dec-2008/Abbas-blames-Hamas-for-Gaza-bloodshed

[7] "PLO and Fatah Officials: Hamas is Responsible for the Deaths of Its People," MEMRI, Dec. 29, 2008, http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD216408

[8] Ibid.

[9] Abu Toameh, Khaled; Katz, Yaakov, "Abbas: Egypt to push new Gaza truce," The Jerusalem Post, Dec. 24, 2008, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1229868830574&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[10] Ibid.

[11] "Across Mideast, thousands protest Israeli assault," The Associated Press, Dec. 28, 2008, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081228/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_mideast_israel_palestinians

[12] "Egyptian border under pressure as Israeli raids on Gaza continues," Xinhua, Dec. 28, 2008, http://english.sina.com/world/2008/1228/207787.html


[13] "Egypt lays blame on Hamas," iReport, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-169684


[14] Shahine, Alaa, "Egypt: Hamas denying Gaza wounded treatment in Egypt," Reuters, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4BR0QP20081228


[15] El-Khodary, Taghreed; Kershner, Isabel, "Israeli Troops Mass Along Border; Arab Anger Rises," The New York Times, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/29/world/middleeast/29mideast.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss


[16] Abilov, Shamkhal, "Israel Air Strike Against Gaza and Reaction of Arab World," The Journal of Turkish Weekly, Dec. 29, 2008, http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/62525/israel-air-strike-against-gaza-and-reaction-of-arab-world.html


[17] Gazzar, Brenda, "Egypt: Hizbullah declared war on us," The Jerusalem Post, Dec. 28, 2008, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456503819&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter




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US Press Corp Dufuses and Dhimmis for HAMAS

Thank God my step-son changed his college major from journalism because I would have been too disgusted and embaressed to have ever introduced him to any decent people. What is being taught in "journalism" school these days? How far up their own arses so-called "reporters" can get their own heads? Read the totally ludicrious and insane questions the "press" ask of Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe concerning Israel finally defending themselves against Hamas attacks against Israel ever since the Israelis gave up Gaza in hopes of peace! I am wondering more and more if these so-called reporters are on drugs........yes, maybe that's why their heads are where the sun don't shine!


Please find below today’s Press Briefing by Deputy Press Secretary and Spokesman for the National Security Council Gordon Johndroe on the situation in Gaza .

The White House, Office of Public Liaison

For Immediate Release, December 29, 2008, PRESS BRIEFING BY DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY GORDON JOHNDROE, Crawford Middle School, Crawford, Texas, 9:54 A.M. CST


MR. JOHNDROE: Good morning, I’ll give you an update on the President’s day. President Bush spoke by phone to His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan this morning, regarding the situation in the Middle East . Following that, the President received his daily intelligence briefing via secure video. He then joined a discussion via secure video with the Vice President, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, and National Security Advisor Steve Hadley. They updated him on overnight developments in the Middle East and discussed U.S. actions.



For six months, a ceasefire, a state of calm, was in place between Hamas and Israel . Recently, Hamas refused to renew it. During that ceasefire, Hamas continued to fire rockets. Last week, Hamas substantially increased its rocket and mortar attacks on the people of Israel .


Hamas has once again shown its true colors as a terrorist organization that refuses to even recognize Israel 's right to exist. In order for the violence to stop Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel , and agree to respect a sustainable and durable ceasefire. That is the objective to which all parties need to be working, and that is what the United States is working towards.

We also remain concerned about the humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza . We ask that all parties involved allow food and medical supplies to reach the people there. We appreciate the efforts of a variety of countries in the region who are working to help the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza .


With that, I'll be happy to take your questions. Deb.


Q What does Israel hope to achieve by this? I mean, what’s the end game?


MR. JOHNDROE: Israel is responding to a barrage of rocket and mortar attacks that increased substantially last week, following Hamas's refusal to renew the ceasefire. Israel has made clear that they do not want to retake Gaza , that they simply want the people of southern Israel to be able to live in peace, free from this barrage of rocket attacks.


And that's what we expect. We also want to see, as I’ve said, the ceasefire restored in a sustainable and durable fashion, so that we can get back on the road map, work towards the goals of the Annapolis process, which, again, is two states living side by side in peace.


Q -- I mean, is just going to rekindle radicalism, isn't it? (this question is incredibly ignorant! It shows a complete and utter lack of any historical facts including what has happened in the last week! And you call yourself a reporter or journalist? Shame on you!)

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, it's hard for me to speak to specific casualty numbers. We have urged the Israelis to avoid civilian casualties. But they are working on decreasing the number of Israeli citizens that are vulnerable. And we know -- I believe someone died this morning, a couple of people a couple of days ago. The Israelis are working to reduce the threat against their own people.

So they're going to continue, it appears at this time, to deal with this Hamas terrorist threat. But ultimately, we want a sustainable and durable ceasefire.

Toby.

Q You said in your opening statement that the President was updated on U.S. actions. What are these U.S. actions that you're taking related to this?


MR. JOHNDROE: Well, the U.S. goal is for the sustainable ceasefire, as I've discussed. Secretary Rice has been on the phone throughout the weekend with various heads of state, primarily foreign ministers, to try and urge the various parties involved to get behind a sustainable ceasefire. That is what the United States is working on right now. Secretary Rice has been the primary interlocutor on that, and that's our goal.

Q And how long before the United States might come out and call for restraint from Israel on the air strikes?

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, that's really, in my opinion, a hypothetical question. Israel is going after terrorists who are firing rockets and mortars into Israel , and they are taking the steps that they feel are necessary to deal with the terrorist threat. Now, no one wants to see violence. But what we're going to need to see in order to end this is Hamas needs to stop firing rockets into Israel and we all need to get to a sustainable ceasefire.

Olivier. (Mr. Dufus)

Q Gordon, you said that Israel has made it clear that they don't want to retake Gaza . But Deputy Prime Minister Ramon came out today and said that the goal of the operation is to topple Hamas. Is that consistent with not retaking Gaza ? Is it consistent with U.S. objectives? And how would you expect Hamas to accept a sustainable and durable ceasefire if the goal of the operation is to knock them out?

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, I haven't seen his comments. I'm referring to the Israeli Foreign Minister comments from yesterday that she made on a variety of television programs, that their goal is to deal with Hamas in a way that will ultimately protect the Israeli people.

Hamas has an opportunity to be a partner in the peace process. There has been a role laid out for them for quite some time. They can recognize Israel 's right to exist, renounce violence, and live up to previous commitments made by the Palestinians. Hamas, instead, is choosing to fire rockets into Israel . So, as I've said before, as many people have said, Hamas has a choice to make. Right now they are choosing to be a terrorist organization that fires rockets into Israel . That is not going to lead to a sustainable ceasefire.

John.

Q Israel is amassing tanks and troops along that border. Is the President urging them not to launch a ground invasion? Is he urging restraint already now, in his diplomatic efforts?

MR. JOHNDROE: The discussions that we've had with the Israelis are ones that everyone needs to recognize that the ultimate goal here is to get to a ceasefire. I can't speak to any potential ground operation. I think that any ground operation, according to the Israelis, would be part and parcel of the overall operation, given their statements saying that they don't want to retake Gaza , that they simply want to protect their people.


So we'll just have to see how this unfolds. Obviously, as I've said, we don't want them -- we want civilian casualties to be avoided. But it’s is unfortunate as Hamas, as we've seen in the past, tends to base its people and some of its rockets in civilian areas. So we'll see.

Go ahead.

Q Is it fair to say that the U.S. would prefer not to see a ground operation, but defends Israel 's right to do that? What exactly is the U.S. position?


MR. JOHNDROE: I'm not going to speculate on a ground operation. Let's just take this one day at a time, all right.


Elaine. (Shame on you for buying into "Israeli aggression" when in reality it Israel is defending itself from continued HAMAS attacks upon civilians! Are you working for HAMAS Elaine? Do yourself a favor, Missy....do some reading based in reality! The Arab's don't need any reason to be angry, they only use anything real or unreal to use as an excuse to be angry. The Arabs are angry because the Israeli's are DEFENDING themselves! For God's sake, read the Qur'an you moron!)

Q What is the message to the broader Arab world out there. In the official statement that was released by the Jordanian news agency about the phone call that you mentioned this morning, they used the phrase, the discussion was about stopping the "Israeli aggression" on Gaza . What is the U.S. message with this rising Arab anger?

MR. JOHNDROE: The President's message to King Abdullah, his overall message, is that we want to see the violence stopped, but in a way that leads to a durable and sustainable cessation of violence. We can't have the violence stopped now only for it to start up again in the near future. That would be unacceptable to all parties involved, and certainly doesn't help the Palestinians achieve their goal of a viable independent state.

So we're obviously very familiar with the Arab position. But I think ultimately they want to see a peaceful end to this that leads to a Palestinian state. (You mean a global caliphate!)

Q And so no comment at all about whether or not there are suggestions on the part of the U.S. to Israel to somehow narrow the scope or – as John was talking about the length of the attacks because of the concern of the casualties? The U.S. basically suggested to Israel that as more and more of these strikes happen, and civilian casualties are mounting, that the response is appearing, at least to some, to be disproportionate. Has the U.S. expressed that concern?

MR. JOHNDROE: I've seen various casualty figures. It's not for me to say what they are. All I can say is that we've seen innocent Israelis die, as well. We want civilian casualties to be avoided, period.

Mark.

Q Gordon, I don't think you answered John's question earlier. Is it accurate to say that the U.S. thinks Israel is justified in its air strikes on Gaza targets? (Mark, who in the hell cares? Israel is a soverieng nation that has the RIGHT to make it's own decisions! - Get a grip dude!)


MR. JOHNDROE: The United States understands that Israel needs to take actions to defend itself.

Q Do you expect Israel to negotiate with Hamas?(HAMAS is a lying, murdering terrorist organization that follows the barbarbic demands of the Qur'an. Throughout history Muslim treaties have been made to be broken! What did giving up the Gaza get Israeli, but rockets to kill innocent Israeli civilians almost the very minute that the Pali's were given Gaza???)

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, there is an Egyptian brokered ceasefire that was in effect until December 19th. It was a bit of a shaky ceasefire, considering Hamas continued to fire rockets during that period of time.


But last week, they refused to renew the ceasefire, and substantially increased the rocket and mortar attacks into Israel . So I don't expect them to speak right now. But I think that the rockets need to stop, and then the violence will stop, and then there will be an opportunity to renew the ceasefire.

Q Is there a role for President Abbas in all of this? (Ues to rip off the Palestinian people just like Yassar Arafat did!)

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, he's the President of all the Palestinian people. And I know that he wants to bring Gaza and the West Bank together. We've all said this is a two-state solution, not a three-state solution. So we'll just see where it goes.


Deb.

Q Can you just tell us a little bit about how you're keeping the President-elect abreast of the situation today?


MR. JOHNDROE: I don't have a whole lot of specifics on that. I know the President-elect receives daily intelligence briefings from the intelligence briefers that are there with him. I know that he's spoken with Secretary Rice to get an update on this situation, and I think some other situations around the world. And we will continue to stay in touch with his staff as events warrant it.


Toby.

Q Is Saudi King Abdallah the only foreign leader that President Bush has spoken with about this?


MR. JOHNDROE: No. And to clarify in case I wasn't clear, he spoke to Abdullah of Jordan this morning. He spoke to Abdallah of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Olivier.

Q Can I just be clear about something. When you said that Israel has been clear that they don't want to retake Gaza , was that in public pronouncements, or did they assure the United States privately that they weren't looking to retake Gaza ?


MR. JOHNDROE: I've heard it both places; both publicly in the press, as well as that's the message that they're passing along.

Deb.

Q Is there any indication that the timing of the attacks are linked in some way to the Israeli elections coming up on the 10th of February?

MR. JOHNDROE: No, I believe -- if you were saying the timing of the attacks, do you think Hamas started its substantial increase of rockets and mortar attacks, do you think Hamas started its substantial increase of rockets and mortar attacks because of the Israeli elections?


Q -- the Israeli response.

MR. JOHNDROE: The Israeli response is in response to the mortar and rocket attacks on its people.

Q And do you think it has anything to do with the --


MR. JOHNDROE: It's not for me to comment on the Israeli political -- their elections, their election season. But it appears to me that they're responding to the hundreds of rockets that have fallen on southern Israel in the last few days.

Elaine.

Q What are the chances that the President, himself, might comment and weigh in on camera about this?

MR. JOHNDROE: We'll just have to see. We'll have to see.

Q Does he not think it would be helpful at this point in time for him to actually come and make this statement? Because obviously what you've said this morning just varies slightly from what we heard a few days ago when this started. Does he think it would just not be helpful at this juncture for him to --


MR. JOHNDROE: At this point, we don't have any plans for the President to make a statement on this. We will continue to monitor the situation. I mean, he's staying in touch with the National Security Advisor, as well as the Secretary of State, and we'll see.

Toby.

Q Aside from the Secretary Rice phone call, is the United States taking any other action? Are you helping Israel in this campaign in any way in terms of military supplies or --

MR. JOHNDROE: No, the United States is not involved in this action in any specific way. The United States has provided millions of dollars of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza , and so we are certainly encouraging countries in the region to continue their efforts to bring medical and food supplies to the people of Gaza .

Q Why hasn’t President Bush spoken with Israeli and Palestinian officials? I mean, I would assume that they have tried to contact him, no?

MR. JOHNDROE: I'm not aware of their contacting him. I know Secretary Rice has spoken to the Prime Minister of Israel, as well as the President of the Palestinian Authority.* But I'm not aware of any contacts that have been made to President Bush on that front. If that changes I'll certainly let you know.

Olivier.

Q When did the United States -- when did the President first know that Israel planned these operations?

MR. JOHNDROE: That Israel planned --

Q Was planning the operations or --


MR. JOHNDROE: Well, their cabinet voted earlier -- sort of middle of last week on this. So it was a very public indication that they were likely to take action.


Q Is there going to be a point when the United States will come out and urge restraint on this Israeli action, or not? (Hey, how about urging restraint and honor on the part of the Palis?)

MR. JOHNDROE: Toby, I understand your question -- at this point, we understand that they're taking efforts to defend their people in the face of just hundreds of rockets.

Nelson.

Q You say that you're working towards helping a cease-fire being restored. Is there anything beyond diplomatic pressure that the United States can do at this juncture?

MR. JOHNDROE: I think that's the appropriate response at the moment from the United States , and I think we've heard the same thing from the European Union and others. We will talk to all the various parties involved and urge a return to the ceasefire, but a ceasefire, as I’ve said, that is sustainable and durable and is respected.

Q I want to go back to Abbas. Do you think that this situation weakens or strengthens his position?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, it's difficult for me to say right now about President Abbas. I think what strengthens President Abbas's position is when he delivers for the Palestinian people. And that is what he is trying to do, and succeeding in some parts of the West Bank -- greater Palestinian security forces, greater investment we've seen in security forces in Janin, greater investment in Nabulus and other cities like that on the West Bank.

You know, the people of Gaza could have that, as well, but instead Hamas has chosen to take a different course of action, and that's to fire rockets into Israel .

Elaine.

Q Senator Sherrod Brown said yesterday that President Bush is in a politically weakened state, and that what the situation calls for now is some strong leadership come January 20th. Do you have any response at all to that

MR. JOHNDROE: No, I haven't seen those comments, and, no, I'm not.

Yes.

Q The President, earlier this year – well, I guess last November during the Annapolis process, had hoped that there would be a peace deal before he left office. Obviously that's not going to happen. So what is his feeling now, given what's occurring right now over there, about the prospects for a peace deal in the future? (Look, you idiots, there will be no peace except when the entire world is Muslim...........that's exactly what "Peace" is to Islam)


MR. JOHNDROE: You know, this is a very similar situation that the President found when he took office in early 2001, with increased violence on the ground. I know that his goal is that this violence come to a, as I’ve said, sustainable, durable and end with a ceasefire, but a ceasefire that's respected by Hamas, so that then all the parties could come together and work towards the goals in the road map and the goals of the Annapolis Conference. The Annapolis goals are ones that have been widely accepted. We saw a good U.N. Security Council Resolution 1850 within the last couple of weeks.

Everyone -- what I think is different from eight years ago is that everyone recognizes that the two-state solution is the right way forward. And so I think the President feels that he has laid good groundwork that will ultimately lead to a two-state solution, but clearly, with the Hamas actions in the last few days, it's not something that's going to advance in the immediate near term.

Patty.

Q It's my understanding that no one from the U.S. is speaking with anyone from Hamas. Well, how can you work toward a ceasefire if you're not talking to one of the sides? (Miss Naive!)

MR. JOHNDROE: That's why we talk with other leaders in the region who do speak with Hamas and have been the interlocutors, so to speak, with Hamas. The ceasefire was Egyptian-brokered, the one that was just -- that Hamas failed to renew last week. And so that's how we deal with Hamas.

Q Why -- in your estimation, why did Hamas break the ceasefire? (because they have repeatedly said that they intend to wipe Isreal off of the face of the earth! Is that clear enough for you??)

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, it's hard for me to get into the minds of a -- get into the mind of terrorists. I don't know why they would rather fire hundreds of rockets and mortars into Israel rather than work for the good of their own people. It's impossible for me to answer.


Q One more -- you said that the U.S. is behind humanitarian aid. Can you give us any specifics of what sort of humanitarian aid you'd like to see or will see brought into Gaza ? (why only humanitarian aide for terrorists? Aren't you the least concerned about all the Israelis who have been murdered and maimed by HAMAS, you freaking hypocrite!?)

MR. JOHNDROE: All I have is some of the general numbers the U.S. provided the U.N. Relief and Works Agency: $57 million in 2008 for the Palestinian people; another $12 million to $14 million through the International Committee of the Red Cross. I don't have any specifics about how that money has been used for the people of Gaza as it relates to the current situation. I know that Egypt and Jordan , as well as Israel , are working to make sure that humanitarian medical and food supplies get to the people of Gaza .


Olivier.

Q Just coming back to something I asked before, but maybe not cleverly enough. Was there no -- Olmert did not reach out to the President prior to the attack? There was no warning? You've relied entirely on the public actions of the Israeli cabinet? (It's none of our freaking business dufus! Do you think the US should ask someone for permission to defend ourselves against terrorists? Geesh! Did you even finish the 2nd grade?)


MR. JOHNDROE: I'm not going to speak to all the private conversations we've had. I'm not aware of any conversations that President Bush and Prime Minister Olmert have had in the last couple of weeks. We have pretty regular contact with the Israeli government, so I don't have any specifics for you on that.



My point in my answer was that this was a very public action that they took earlier in the week in signaling that the rocket attacks were not acceptable.

Mark.

Q Gordon, in the U.S. view, would the Israelis be justified in seeking to destroy Hamas, so long as it doesn't disavow future rocket attacks? (HUH?)

MR. JOHNDROE: I think that's a question I'm not going to go down -- a road I'm not going to go down. I don't think anyone wants to see anyone destroyed, although Hamas has indicated sometimes they'd like to see Israel destroyed. But I think what people want is just peace on the ground and end to the violence, so that people can go about and live normal lives. And this is especially true of the people of southern Israel who end up having to spend so much of their time in bomb shelters. It's unacceptable.

Thank you all. One more.

Q What is the President doing today?


MR. JOHNDROE: What is the President doing today? After his phone call with Abdullah and his intelligence briefing, he went to his office to work on paperwork and a variety of things. And I expect he'll probably ride his bicycle today and spend time with Mrs. Bush. And we'll -- I expect he'll also probably receive updates on the ongoing situation in the Middle East , as well.

Q Gordon, I'm sorry -- you said, "I don't think anyone wants to see anyone destroyed," but if Hamas is a terrorist organization, as you say --


MR. JOHNDROE: No, no, you heard the rest of that sentence, which was -- and, Mark, you heard what I said -- that Hamas has indicated they would actually like to see Israel destroyed. They say that from time to time.

Anyway, my point is --

Q I heard that, too, but that doesn't really go to the core of the answer. I mean, you're right, they have said they want to see Israel destroyed periodically. But you're saying now that --

MR. JOHNDROE: The point is I'm not going to -- it's impossible for me to answer the question about Israeli intentions, which was what I was asked. But I said that I believe everyone's ultimate goal is not for the destruction of each other -- although the terrorists have indicated sometimes that they would like to see the destruction of Israel -- their ultimate goal is for the people to be able to live in peace. And what I also said is right now the people of southern Israel are not able to live in peace; they have to live in bomb shelters a lot of the time. And that's unacceptable.

Q Will either Hadley or Rice be coming to Crawford?

MR. JOHNDROE: No.

Q No?


MR. JOHNDROE: No.


Holly.

Q I think you said earlier that Secretary Rice has been in touch with both sides. Is she in touch with Hamas?

MR. JOHNDROE: No, when I say that I'm referring to Palestinian Authority President Abbas - so just to clarify, as I answered to Patty's question, as well.

Okay? Great. Thank you all very much.



END 10:20 A.M. CDT



*Secretary Rice has not spoken to the President of the Palestinian Authority.