Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Cheney's Statements Encourage Israeli Holocaust of Palestinians, Illegal Settlement Activities, and Kill Hope for US Honest Mediation

US Vice President Backs Israeli Aggressions on Gaza

Jerusalem, March 23, 2008 (RNA) –

The US Vice President Dick Cheney said Saturday in press conference with Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert that US will never pressure Israeli to halt attacks against Gaza strip "as a right to defend itself against rockets from Hamas-ruled territories."
 
Cheney promised "enduring and unshakable" commitment to Israel's security and "its right to defend itself against those bent on destroying the Jewish state."
 
The American Vice President justified the Israeli aggressions on the besieged Gaza strip and killing hundreds of civilian Palestinians and children. He also didn’t mention any news to lift the helping suffering Gazans.
 
The vice president reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state, and assured Palestinian leaders that "they, too, can be certain of America's goodwill" as it tries to help Israel and the Palestinians reach an accord.
 
He said it "confirms the United States is a partner to Israel in its war against our people and against the Gaza Strip."

Hamas: Cheney's statement provocative, affirms collusion in crimes

[ 23/03/2008 - 10:27 AM ]
GAZA, (PIC)--

The Hamas Movement said on Saturday evening that American vice president Dick Cheney's backing to "Israel's right of self defense in face of missiles launched from the Gaza Strip" constituted a provocation against the Palestinian people.

Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a press release that Cheney's statement proved anew that the USA was an accomplice in Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people. He further described the statement as "completely biased in favor of Israeli occupation and unfair towards our people's rights".

Such "provocative" statements add to the "holocaust" in Gaza and provide "legitimacy" and a "cover" for such crimes, the spokesman elaborated.

Cheney had also said that his country would not pressure Israel to adopt any step that might threaten its security.

He told a press conference jointly held with Israeli premier Ehud Olmert that the USA's commitment to Israel's security was "enduring and unshakable" and that Israel was entitled "to defend itself against terrorism and rocket attacks and other threats from forces dedicated to Israel's destruction".

US Vice President Cheney faces criticism ahead of West Bank visit

Date: 23 / 03 / 2008  Time:  10:49
Ramallah – Ma'an –

American Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to arrive in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, on Sunday.

Cheney will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Palestinians expect the talks to focus on the United States' role in convincing Israel to stop building illegal settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as a step towards furthering the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed five days ago during a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to continue construction in the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank  Palestinian territory, especially in the illegally annexed East Jerusalem.

On Saturday, Hamas criticized Cheney's pledges not to pressure Israel.

"The United States will never pressure Israel to take steps that would threaten its security," Cheney told reporters on Saturday night before a meeting with Prime Minister Olmert.

Cheney vowed to back Israel against what he called the "darkening shadows" of Iran and other entities.

The vice president called Israel "one of history's great miracles."

Hamas said these statements were an act of incitement against the Palestinian people.

Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement distributed on Saturday that the US has sided completely with Israel.

Cheney attended a brief Easter service on Sunday morning and met with right-wing Israeli opposition leader Bebyamin Netanyahu.