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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| US, Israel vow to support Abbas | US, Israel vow to support Abbas |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have offered strong support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | US President George W Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have offered strong support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Calling Mr Abbas "the president of all the Palestinian people", both men pledged to work with his new emergency government, which excludes Hamas. | Calling Mr Abbas "the president of all the Palestinian people", both men pledged to work with his new emergency government, which excludes Hamas. |
| Mr Olmert insisted he was ready to meet Mr Abbas on a regular basis. | Mr Olmert insisted he was ready to meet Mr Abbas on a regular basis. |
| Mr Bush and Mr Olmert met for private talks at the White House following the military takeover of Gaza by Hamas. | |
| After meeting the media, the pair spoke for about 90 minutes, aides said, but there was no indication of what they discussed. | |
| Mr Abbas sacked the Hamas-led Palestinian government in the aftermath of the takeover, replacing it with an emergency administration led by an independent. | Mr Abbas sacked the Hamas-led Palestinian government in the aftermath of the takeover, replacing it with an emergency administration led by an independent. |
| Ahead of the Washington meeting a Hamas spokesman said the talks were aimed at destroying his organisation. | Ahead of the Washington meeting a Hamas spokesman said the talks were aimed at destroying his organisation. |
| Hamas condemned | Hamas condemned |
| Speaking before the start of private talks, the two leaders said Mr Abbas "speaks out for moderation" in the Palestinian territories. | Speaking before the start of private talks, the two leaders said Mr Abbas "speaks out for moderation" in the Palestinian territories. |
| "He is a reasonable voice among the extremists in your neighbourhood," Mr Bush said to Mr Olmert. | "He is a reasonable voice among the extremists in your neighbourhood," Mr Bush said to Mr Olmert. |
| Our hope is that President Abbas and Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad... can lead the Palestinians in a different direction President George W Bush Tensions at Gaza crossing Moves to support W Bank Ask Jeremy Bowen | Our hope is that President Abbas and Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad... can lead the Palestinians in a different direction President George W Bush Tensions at Gaza crossing Moves to support W Bank Ask Jeremy Bowen |
| Mr Olmert condemned the "brutality" of Hamas, but said he would make every possible effort to co-operate with Mr Abbas, raising the prospect of bi-weekly meetings. | Mr Olmert condemned the "brutality" of Hamas, but said he would make every possible effort to co-operate with Mr Abbas, raising the prospect of bi-weekly meetings. |
| Mr Bush repeated his previously-stated commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a sentiment backed by Mr Olmert. | Mr Bush repeated his previously-stated commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a sentiment backed by Mr Olmert. |
| "Our hope is that President Abbas and Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad will be strengthened to the point where they can lead the Palestinians in a different direction," he said. | "Our hope is that President Abbas and Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad will be strengthened to the point where they can lead the Palestinians in a different direction," he said. |
| But there was no specific mention of how the US or Israel intended to address the reality of a Gaza Strip run by Hamas. | But there was no specific mention of how the US or Israel intended to address the reality of a Gaza Strip run by Hamas. |
| Reports ahead of the talks said Israel wanted to tighten financial restrictions on Gaza, denying funds to Hamas. | Reports ahead of the talks said Israel wanted to tighten financial restrictions on Gaza, denying funds to Hamas. |
| However, a spokesman told the BBC that Israel had no intention of stopping humanitarian aid reaching those in need. | However, a spokesman told the BBC that Israel had no intention of stopping humanitarian aid reaching those in need. |
| Embargo lifted | Embargo lifted |
| The talks in Washington came a day after the US and the EU announced the lifting of a financial and diplomatic embargo on the Palestinian Authority imposed after the Islamist group won elections power 18 months ago. | The talks in Washington came a day after the US and the EU announced the lifting of a financial and diplomatic embargo on the Palestinian Authority imposed after the Islamist group won elections power 18 months ago. |
| Send us your comments Q&A: Gaza chaos How Hamas took over | Send us your comments Q&A: Gaza chaos How Hamas took over |
| Mr Abbas dismissed the government on Thursday after it seized control of the Gaza Strip. The factional fighting left more than 100 people dead. | Mr Abbas dismissed the government on Thursday after it seized control of the Gaza Strip. The factional fighting left more than 100 people dead. |
| On Monday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that her government would resume full diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority immediately. | On Monday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that her government would resume full diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority immediately. |
| She also announced $40m (£20m) of emergency aid to the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which runs relief efforts in Gaza, now controlled by Hamas. | She also announced $40m (£20m) of emergency aid to the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which runs relief efforts in Gaza, now controlled by Hamas. |
| Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also confirmed that up to $800m (£400m) of frozen tax revenues held by Israel would now be transferred to the Palestinian Authority. | Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also confirmed that up to $800m (£400m) of frozen tax revenues held by Israel would now be transferred to the Palestinian Authority. |