Abbas Election Victory Stirs Hopes for Peace Talks
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Victory by Mahmoud Abbas,  an advocate of non-violence, in Palestinian presidential  elections stirred hopes Monday he could pursue peacemaking  Israel said must start with a crackdown on militants.
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said in interviews published Sunday they would be willing to meet, though such talks were unlikely before a Jan. 9 Palestinian election.
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President Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped talks between Palestinian factions to begin Sunday would resolve critical disagreements and make his plan to call a referendum recognizing Israel&#039;s right to exist unnecessary.
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Mahmoud Abbas, the leading candidate for the Palestinian Authority presidency, said yesterday that Palestinians wanted to begin negotiating final statehood terms
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said   on Monday he had reached a deal with Prime Minister Ismail   Haniyeh of Hamas over forming a unity government that the   Palestinians hope will end their international isolation.
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The White House on Saturday said it  hoped that a call by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for  fresh elections would help calm violence and pave the way for  getting the peace process back on track.
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Palestinian voters appeared to have overwhelmingly elected Mahmoud Abbas as their leader Sunday in balloting many Palestinians and international officials considered a milestone in efforts to bring democracy to the Arab world and a potential opening for reviving peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Saturday for elections to end his violent standoff with Hamas &#151; a gamble that Palestinians will back him as he seeks to weaken the Islamic militants, avoid civil war and keep momentum for peace overtures with Israel.
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While violence was largely over, people worried about how a round of deadly infighting postponed hope for an independent and unified Palestinian state.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Middle East peace hopes  were boosted on Monday when Mahmoud Abbas was elected  Palestinian president and Israel's parliament backed Ariel  Sharon's new coalition to implement his planned Gaza pullout.
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HOPES of progress towards Middle East peace rose last night after Israel and the Palestinian Authority backed Tony Blairâs call for a London conference that could be a step towards the opening of negotiations on a final settlement.
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Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said on Monday he hoped a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas would result in an agreement on a unity government to end a crippling Western embargo.
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Freed from Yasser Arafat&#39;s one-man rule, Palestinians say they are eager and able to build the first real democracy in the Arab world, despite the dangers lurking on the road to Jan. 9 elections.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and   Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas on Monday reached a deal   to form a unity government that the Palestinians hope will end   their international isolation and revive aid.
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PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas today appeared to be guaranteed victory in the Palestinian presidential election after the withdrawal of his chief rival, but an upsurge of violence underlined the scale of the challenge ahead.
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas extended his hand in peace Monday, his first gesture toward Israel since his landslide victory in presidential elections.
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Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has started his presidential campaign by promising a general referendum on peace.