Palestine: Hamas Rejects Elections in Gaza

Palestine: Abbas Gambles on January Elections
Israel-Palestine: Clinton to Obama “Little Progress”

Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis

Hamas has responded harshly to Friday's decree by Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas that general elections for the Presidency and Parliament will be held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on 24 January.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri declared that no vote can be held in Gaza, "This announcement means that elections will take place only in the West Bank, cementing the Palestinian split instead of fixing the problem."

Obama's Nobel Prize: Reactions from the Israeli-Palestinian Front

Obama’s Nobel Prize: There’s Concerned…And Then There’s Stupid
Instant Reaction: Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Video/Transcript: Obama’s Reaction to the Nobel Peace Prize

Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis

After U.S. President Barack Obama's winning Nobel Prize, leaders of Israel and Palestine expressed their feelings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the hope that his presidency would "usher in a new era of peace." In a message to Obama, he said:

Congratulations on winning the Nobel Prize for Peace... You have already inspired so many people around the world, and I know that this award also expresses the hope that your Presidency will usher in a new era of peace and reconciliation.

Another Npbel Prize holder, Israeli President Shimon Peres, also sent Obama a letter congratulating his Nobel Prize. In his letter, he wrote:

Very few leaders if at all were able to change the mood of the entire world in such a short while with such profound impact. You provided the entire humanity with fresh hope, with intekllectual determination, and a feeling that there is a lord in heaven and believers on earth.

Under your leadership, peace became a real and original agenda. And from Jerusalem, I am sure all the bells of engagement and understanding will ring again.

You gave us a license to dream and act in a noble direction.

On the Palestinian front, Fatah welcomed the prize but Hamas was sceptical. The chief Palestinian peace negotiator, Saeb Erekat expressed hope that Obama "will be able to achieve peace in the Middle East". On the other hand, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Obama has a long way to go still and lots of work to do before he can deserve a reward... Obama only made promises and did not contribute any substance to world peace... And he has not done anything to ensure justice for the sake of Arab and Muslim causes."