US - Israel react to Hamas official leading Palestinian security
Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 4/21/2006

US Department Of State Sean McCormack reacted yesterday to the appointment of what has been described as a Hamas "militant" Jamal Abu Samahadana being put as Director General in charge of Palestinian security forces, by saying "as we've made clear, we hold this Hamas-led government for security in the Palestinian areas and that means that preventing acts of terrorism as well as dismantling terrorist groups."

The Israeli government is reported to be considering senior Hamas officials, even as officials of the Palestinian government, as possibly subject to assassination. Israel considers Hamas as a terrorist organization, while Hamas sees Israel as terrorist and occupying power. Hamas has refused to condemn a recent bombing in Tel Aviv, and regards Palestinians as having rights to expel a brutal occupation by Israel of their land.

US Deparment Of State spokesman McCormack said "Look, this is again, I think, a demonstration of the true nature and the true tactics of this particular Hamas-led government. We saw public expression of that just the other day when, given the opportunity to condemn an act of terrorism in which a teenager blew up innocents in Jerusalem, that they condoned it, they didn't condemn it. So again, this is just another window into the nature of this Hamas-led government and underscores the importance of the international community maintaining unity and sending a strong message to them to change."

McCormack added "I've heard various statements about -- statements from some of the leaders of this Hamas-led government saying that -- you know, trying to sort of whip up a spirit of nationalism among the Palestinians talking about dignity, not dollars. Well, again, this is distracting from the issue. What they are doing, what this Hamas-led government is doing, is standing in the way of progress towards what all Palestinians want, and that is a Palestinian state that is a stable state, that is a secure state in which the children of the Palestinian people today can realize a better future. What they're doing is standing in the way of that. So again, we call upon the Hamas-led government to meet the conditions that have been laid out by the international community. You can see that in the most recent statement out of the Quartet."

Asked about hope offered at the State Department that Hamas would remain the authoritative and security would remain in the hands of President Mahmoud Abbas, McCormack said "there has been some talk about what exact authorities President Abbas will choose to exercise. He does retain some authorities as President of the Palestinian Authority. I think at this -- the best way I can describe it at this point, Barry, is that that situation is still evolving with respect to the Palestinian security services."

President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday received, in Ramallah, an Egyptian security delegation with a message of support from Omar Suleiman, the Head of the Egyptian Intelligence, affirming the continuation of the Egyptian efforts to support the Palestinian people as well as the maintaining calm in the region.

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