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Palestine Says Hope in Obama 'Evaporated'

Abbas' Fatah Party accuses president of caving to Israel

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 14, 2009 8:36 AM CDT

(AP) – The Palestinian president's political party says all hopes in the Obama administration have "evaporated," accusing the White House of caving to pressure from the pro-Israel lobby and backing off a demand to freeze Jewish settlement. Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party also accused the US of failing to set a clear agenda for a new round of Mideast peace talks, according to an internal memo obtained by the AP yesterday.

"All hopes placed in the new US administration and President Obama have evaporated," the document said. Obama "couldn't withstand the pressure of the Zionist lobby, which led to a retreat from his previous positions on halting settlement construction and defining an agenda for the negotiations and peace." The document, dated Oct. 12, comes from an office headed by the party's No. 2, Mohammed Ghneim.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, center, is seen during his visit to the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, center, is seen during his visit to the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, gestures while delivering a speech at his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, gestures while delivering a speech at his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas looks on during his visit to the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas looks on during his visit to the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
sailor86
Oct 26, 2009 4:00 AM CDT
We're supposed to intervene and say "play nice, boys."
Corona_Kinq
Oct 14, 2009 6:15 AM CDT
Absolutely correct godawgs.
alkaseltzersammich
Oct 14, 2009 5:35 AM CDT
Yes, because it's our responsibility to police the world. I really wish world leaders would get a clue and handle their own problems.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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