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The White House has contradicted Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's recent descriptions of Hamas as a "resistance" group by labeling it a terrorist organization.The confirmation came from White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, who had been asked about the coming Middle East summit conference in Annapolis, which officials hope will lead to development of plans for a Palestinian state in the Middle East."Given that the president has repeatedly said that it's vital that the Palestinians acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state, and Saeb Erekat yesterday … refused to acknowledge that very basic fact…" the question began."There has been a lot of increasing chatter as we've moved up towards the hopeful date of this meeting. Secretary Rice has been in the region several times, and Steve Hadley has been there, as well. We are working with the parties in order to bring them along to establish a feeling for a meeting that could actually result in a substantive core list of issues that can be worked on in order to get to a Palestinian state. We believe that we are nearly there. And because Secretary Rice is going to the region later this week so that she can help bring them along, let's just let that process play out, because I think that there is good intention on all sides," Perino said. "But even – I mean, we know the issues that are on the list, we know what the final status issues are, but if there's this very basic refusal to acknowledge a country's right to exist as a Jewish state, how can the parties even talk?" the reporter continued."Well, I think that we should hear from President [Mahmoud] Abbas [of the Fatah organization] before making further judgments," Perino said.Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, then raised the issue of the other organization, Hamas, which took over Gaza from Abbas' Fatah organization and now runs it."What about Hamas? Do you really think that Hamas is going to recognize the existence of Israel?" he asked.
"Obviously, Hamas is a terrorist organization and it's just…" Perino said.
"And they rule the – they rule the Gaza Strip, don't they?" Kinsolving asked.
"Well, it's unfortunate – for the way that the – for the individuals that are living under that rule and in Gaza, it is quite a serious situation. We are helping provide – to provide humanitarian relief, and we would like for that region to be able to return to a situation where they can try to…" she said.
"But Hamas is not going to recognize the existence of Israel?" Kinsolving asked.
"I'll let them speak for themselves, but I think they have a track record that would lead you to that conclusion," she said. As WND has reported, Rice has said most Israelis support giving up the West Bank to create a Palestinian state alongside Israel. That's despite results from a new poll released that contradicted her contention, finding the vast majority of Israelis oppose withdrawing from the West Bank, stating they fear the Palestinians will use the strategic territory to fire rockets into central Israel.
The West Bank borders Jerusalem and is within rocket range of Tel Aviv and Israel's international airport.
"I believe that most Israelis are ready to leave most of the – nearly all of the West Bank – just as they were ready to leave Gaza, for the sake of peace," said Rice addressing delegates in Nashville at the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities, an annual meeting of top American Jewish leaders.
Her comments were followed by the release of a poll finding 61 percent of the general Israeli public opposes a withdrawal from most of the West Bank and handing the strategic territory to the Palestinians.Kinsolving also asked: "The U.S. in some foreign quarters has been given an almost outcast status because of its war on terror. But France's Sarkozy and Germany's Merkel have both expressed favorable opinions of the U.S., and Britain's Gordon Brown is stressing the importance of ties with the U.S. What does this approval mean to the U.S.?"
"I'm going to have to take a pass. I'll get back to you later," Perino said.
The Associated Press reported that Brown has stressed the importance of ties with the United States. He became prime minister in June, replacing the pro-American Tony Blair.
In a recent speech, Brown said the world was a better place when the U.S. and Britain acted together."It is no secret that I am a lifelong admirer of America. I have no truck with anti-Americanism in Britain or elsewhere in Europe," Brown said. "I believe that our ties with America—founded on values we share—constitute our most important bilateral relationship."
Brown also noted in his speech the newly pro-American leanings from French President Nicholas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
As in the days of Noah...
