Abbas gets European and Arab backing
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RAFAH, Gaza Strip  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas won European and Arab backing on Monday for taking control of Gaza's breached border with Egypt, intensifying his power struggle with the Hamas Islamists who rule the enclave.
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"We will work to secure all basic needs for our people in Gaza"  The emergency government that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas installed after Islamic militants seized control of Gaza reaped its first windfall on Monday, with the European Union promising to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in crucial aid.The EU traditionally has been the Palestinian Authority's largest donor, and the reinstatement of aid, cut off after the Islamic Hamas movement took power 15 months ago, could signal the beginning of the end to a crippling international boycott. Read more
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Middle East peace hopes  were boosted on Monday when Mahmoud Abbas was elected  Palestinian president and the Israeli parliament endorsed Ariel  Sharon's new coalition to implement his planned Gaza pullout.
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Mahmoud Abbas will visit the Gaza Strip to try to convince Palestinian militants to stop attacks against Israel.
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President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority also declared his readiness to hold talks with IsraelÂs prime minister.
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The European Union moved Monday to bolster the Palestinian emergency government, offering political and financial support and urging Israel to follow suit.
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The Hamas-led Palestinian government endorsed on Monday President Mahmoud Abbas's proposal for a ceasefire between militants and Israel, a cabinet spokesman said.
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Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday welcomed a proposed Palestinian coalition &#151; but firmly underlined in talks with President Mahmoud Abbas the European Union stance that any new government must recognize Israel.
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Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has started his presidential campaign by promising a general referendum on peace.
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Tens of thousands of Palestinians pledged  support to front-running presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas  on Friday as he made his first visit to Gaza since the start of  a campaign to succeed Yasser Arafat.
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The United States and Europe Monday restored direct aid to the Palestinians in a show of support after president Mahmud Abbas fired a Hamas-led government following internecine clashes.
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President George W. Bush on Monday will offer new support for the Fatah-led government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, marking a higher profile effort to resolve the Middle East conflict.
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Dozens of international donors on Monday pledged $7.4 billion in aid to the Palestinians over the next three years in support of the Western-backed government of President Mahmoud Abbas, who is negotiating peace with Israel.
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KUWAIT CITY Dec 12, 2004 - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas apologized to Kuwaitis on Sunday for the Palestinians&#39; support of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, making a gesture many here have long demanded as he
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Leading candidate Mahmoud Abbas received a loud and warm welcome in the isolated West Bank town of Jericho in a campaign visit ahead of a Jan. 9 election to replace Yasser Arafat, telling his backers that he will follow Arafat's policies.
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Powerful signal of international and Arab support for independent state at donor conference
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British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Saturday called on the world to support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas amid escalating violence and political turmoil in the West Bank and Gaza.