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Rice Urges Palestinians to Dismantle Terror Groups

(New York Times) Joel Brinkley - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Palestinian leaders on Monday that it was time for the Palestinians "to begin dismantling the terrorist infrastructure; that is what I will be looking for." Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, has tried to curb attacks on Israelis by persuading the various Palestinian groups to observe a cease-fire - rather than trying to dismantle them, as Israel has urged. Until now, the U.S. had offered cautious praise for Abbas's success in reducing the violence and suggested that a cease-fire might be workable as a temporary, opening tactic. But Rice's remarks indicated that the American attitude toward Abbas's efforts had hardened. Rice also said the Syrians "can't say they want the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians to succeed" while supporting terrorists. Friday's bombing in Tel Aviv "was not just an attack on people," she added. "It was an attack on the process. And groups that are intent on destroying this process have to be dealt with promptly."
2005-03-01 00:00:00
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