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U.S. Gives Ground on Iran and Hamas

(AP/Washington Post) Anne Gearan - The U.S. is compromising in order to broker dual accords in confrontations over Iran's nuclear program and the future of aid to the Palestinians. In each case, the agreements put off potential conflicts by postponing harsh consequences for Tehran or the Palestinians. One agreement puts Russia and China on record supporting Iran's referral to the Security Council when the UN nuclear watchdog agency votes on the matter later this week. It was agreed, though, that the Security Council should wait until March to take up the Iran case. Secretary of State Rice described the move as a compromise between the U.S. preference for immediate referral and action and the Russian preference to put off referral. On the Palestinians, Rice won international support for the principle that overseas aid will be conditioned on a new Hamas government renouncing violence and accepting Israel's right to exist. The PA gets roughly half its annual budget of up to $1.9 billion from other governments and international organizations. Monday's statement from would-be Mideast peacemakers was less than an outright threat to boycott Hamas.
2006-02-01 00:00:00
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