ITN2: Islamic World News

: "Saudi Paper Says Israeli Minority Dictating Reaction to Palestinian Cabinet

Mar 16, 07:09 AM

Text of report in English by Saudi newspaper Saudi Gazette website on 16 March

[Editorial: 'Who's in Control?']

It's difficult to tell who exactly is calling the shots these days in Israel when it comes to recognizing the newly formed Palestinian unity government composed of both the democratically elected Hamas and Fatah, the party of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Soon after the announcement of a unity deal between the two legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people, two separate news reports appeared on international wire services.

In the first, an unnamed 'senior Israeli official' called the agreement 'a step backward' and claimed that Israel would lobby the international community not to work with the coalition. In the second, 'a senior official told Agence France-Presse' that Israel is ready to work with the new unity government if a soldier captured by Gaza militants is released and rocket fire stops.

It is common knowledge that the majority of Israeli citizens are of the opinion that the people of Palestine deserve their own state. Israeli opinion polls have reaffirmed such a stance repeatedly.

Clearly, even in Israel, the brutal repression of the Palestinians is viewed by the majority as reprehensible.

Unfortunately,"