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Mon 12 Dec 2008Abbas blames Hamas for Israeli attacks
ARAB REACTION:AS DEMONSTRATIONS opposing Israel's unprecedented onslaught on Gaza erupted across the Middle East yesterday, Palestinian president and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas blamed Hamas for the Israeli assault.
Speaking in Cairo following a meeting with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Mr Abbas argued that if Hamas had renewed the ceasefire that expired on December 19th, Israel would not have had a pretext to mount the unprecedented attack. His statement reflected the views of Israel and the US, the principal backers of his West Bank regime, and is likely to deepen the rift between Fatah and Hamas.
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