U.S. favorite accepts key Palestinian ministry post
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A U.S.-educated economist with close ties to the Bush administration agreed on Wednesday to serve as finance minister in a Palestinian unity government, despite the threat of a boycott by the United States and Israel.
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has approved a start to diplomatic talks with the Palestinians in response to a lull in militant attacks secured by their new leader Mahmoud Abbas, officials said on Wednesday. The decision came hours before senior U.S. diplomat William Burns was to arrive on a fresh White House mission to revive a "road map" peace plan envisaging a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip co-existing with a secure Israel.
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Senior Palestinian officials said last night that a move is afoot among leaders of the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala), whereby Abu Mazen would replace Yasser Arafat as chairman of the Palestinian
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Top possibilities for Palestinian president:
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The United States may be willing   to accept some easing of the West's boycott of the Palestinian   Authority as President Mahmoud Abbas tries to form a   national-unity government, diplomats said.
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The Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath said yesterday that the US secretary of state Colin Powell will arrive next week to the West Bank to meet with the new Palestinian leadership.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinians elected Mahmoud Abbas, longtime deputy leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as their new president yesterday by an overwhelming majority, according to several exit polls, giving him what analysts described as a broad mandate to demilitarize the four-year-old uprising and revive peace talks with Israel.
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The United States on Sunday began a new round of Mideast diplomacy after the death of Yasser Arafat, asking Israel to help with the upcoming Palestinian election for his successor.
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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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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Middle East peace hopes  were boosted 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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British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw hailed the emergence of a new Palestinian leadership as he became the latest top diplomat to detect a chance to revive the stalled Middle East peace process.
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A former Palestinian security minister who could be key to keeping order among rival factions in Gaza after an Israeli pullout held a fence-mending meeting Monday with President Yasser Arafat, officials said.
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WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 14: Under American encouragement and, in some cases, pressure, Israel has quietly taken steps aimed at strengthening the standing of Palestinian moderates and has agreed to consider others now that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has
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RAMALLAH - Israel&#39;s Cabinet on Wednesday officially approved a West Bank burial for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who remains in a deep coma in a French hospital, said Palestinian officials.
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Mahmoud Abbas won a vital vote from the Palestinians' dominant political faction approving his candidacy to succeed Yasir Arafat as Palestinian president.
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By Saul Hudson SANTIAGO, Chile  - Outgoing Secretary of StateColin Powell praised Israel and the Palestinians on Wednesdayfor seeking to make January's election for a successor toPresident Yasser Arafat work.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank - PLO leader Mahmud Abbas is the firm favourite to be chosen as the dominant Fatah factionâs candidate to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority, a cabinet minister said on Sunday.