Palestinians look to Shabir as leader

[oberliner]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Mohammed Shabir, the leading candidate to head a future Palestinian unity government, is close to both Hamas and Fatah and has made a point of keeping his views about
Israel and politics to himself.


The U.S.-educated university professor is a modest, soft-spoken intellectual who commands great respect and has the stature to bridge the differences between the rival factions, Palestinians said Monday. While believed to be sympathetic to Hamas, Shabir is not known to be a member.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061114/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinians_shabir

[AlamoDemoc]

1. Israel and their packers achieved small victory....

I think Mr. Haniyeh showed statesmanship giving up his elected office for the sake of his people to achieve donations from the Israel packers....he showed he cared his people and less about his career as politician.

Regardless of who takes over from PM Haniyeh, Israel and the West will treat him as they have with Abbas and Haniyeh, as insignificant, in due time.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. He showed nothing.

There was nothing in the 'peace plan' that asked for him to step down from his position. The only way I can see his actions as magnanimous and "for his people," is if his replacement will do what he would not, recognize Israel and be willing to demand the cessation of attacks against Israel. If his replacement meets those conditions and Haniyeh knew the replacement would act accordingly, then, and only then, will I say he acted in the best interest of this people. As for now, I remain skeptical and wonder if he is doing nothing more than being a martyr without the suicide belt.

[azurnoir]

2. Israel's next moves here

will say much as to it's true intentions. Up until recently, say the last 16-18 months, I had been an avid supporter of Israel, however it would seem that their is a faction in Israel that does not want peace with the Palestinians and unfortunately that faction has become quite "loud" as of late.