Can Abbas and Sharon Succeed?
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Hope and skepticism as Israel and the Palestinians try again
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JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's attempt to speed up a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was undercut yesterday by his main political rival, who called for a national referendum that could delay or even scuttle the pullout.
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should not be rushed. He said the Palestinians must first elect a president and both sides must. begin to carry out a US-backed &quot;road map&quot; peace plan.
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This weekend's election to replace Yasser Arafat has the potential to usher in the Arab world's first genuine democracy with a peaceful transfer of power that will augur well for the dream of a Palestinian state. The new Palestinian president &#151; widely expected to be Mahmoud Abbas &#151; doesn't have an easy job ahead of him.
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After winning one of the toughest political fights of his career before Israel&#39;s parliament, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faces a colossal battle
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Don't expect a sea-change when Abbas succeeds Arafat
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Abbas claims Arafat's mantle, but peace may be no closer
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The Islamic militant group will dominate a new Palestinian government, and that won't make the U.S. and Israel  -  or Mahmoud Abbas  -  very happy
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Mahmoud Abbas is studious, gracious, pragmatic and opposed to terrorism. He is also tough enough to have been Yasir Arafat's No. 2 for many years in the Palestine Liberation Organization.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat both confronted challenges from within their own ranks yesterday in speeches that aimed to quash growing internal rebellions over their leadership and policies.
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Long locked in struggle, Sharon and Arafat both confront fights for survival that could reshape the Middle East
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Peace gestures gain momentum, but Sharon and Abbas must still face hard-line opposition groups.
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has cracked down on militants, reached a truce with Israel and impressed the U.S. with his grit. Is this the man who can bring peace to the Middle East?
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Palestinian leaders must overcome their   differences and present a united front if peace talks with   Israel are to succeed, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon   Peres said on Wednesday.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - A landslide victory by  Mahmoud Abbas in Palestinian elections to choose a successor to  Yasser Arafat raised hopes on Monday for reviving talks with  Israel after years of bloodshed.
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The parliament speaker would replace Yasser Arafat as Palestinian Authority president for 60 days, until elections. But he is unlikely to hold onto that position during a turbulent transition; timely elections also seem unlikely.
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Analysis: Why there's little grounds for optimism that Tony Blair, Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas can restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process