Ceasefire Declared By Israel in Gaza

this news update by www.breakingalert.blogspot.com
GAZA: Israeli forces started to implement a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza Strip early Sunday after a 22-day fierce offensive on the Hamas-ruled area.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared a unilateral ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, beginning from 2 a.m. (0000 GMT) Sunday. The declaration came shortly after Israeli
security cabinet voted in favor of a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel forces Cast Lead Operation had been going on in the past three weeks, killing around 1,300 Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared the truce, beginning from 2 a.m. (0000 GMT) Sunday, saying the goals of the operation in Gaza had been “met in full.”

“We reached all of our objectives in Gaza,” Olmert told a press conference in Tel Aviv, adding Hamas has been dealt a heavy blow by Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and Hamas leaders are now in hiding.

But he ordered troops to remain in the enclave and return fire if they came under attack.

Minutes after Olmert declared the unilateral ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas movement’s armed wing
al-Qassam Brigades sent a statement to reporters, saying they will “continue resistance as long as the occupation of Gaza continues and the blockade is imposed.”

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14 Militants, 2 FC Personnel Killed in Fresh Clashes Mohmand Agency

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PESHAWAR: Raging clashes between the security forces and the militants at Lakro Sandokhel area of Mohmand Agency left 14 militants dead, while two FC personnel also sacrificed their valuable lives. Sources said that at least 13 militants were killed in the skirmishes between the security forces and militants at Lakro Sandokhel area of Mohmand Agency.

Militants commander, Yaqub was also reported to be killed in the fierce clashes that continued overnight, when the security forces went on pounding militants’ hideouts with heavy weapons, while 2 FC men also sacrificed their lives in action. Meanwhile, the security forces have got the occupation of Sandokhel Government High School vacated. Stiff security arrangements have been made in the area, as all the exit and entry roads were being picketed.

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George W. Bush Had Warned Gilani of US Attacks in Pakistan: UK Based Scholar

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Outgoing US President George W. Bush directly warned Prime Minister Gilani during his first official visit to US that Pakistan would be attacked in the event of another 9/11 on the American soil, a UK based scholar claimed on Saturday.

Professor Anatol Liven made this disclosure during a public talk on ‘Obama’s Administration and the War on Terror’, organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS) here. A large number of ambassadors, diplomats, intellectuals and students attended the talk and also raised their questions.

While further elaborating his point he said the US suffered deep wounds due to 9/11 attacks and it responded immediately out of the rising feelings of nationalism among the American people.

“I don’t know but can say if there is any other 9/11 in US, Pakistan may face limited American attack in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA),” he said.

Professor Anatol said upcoming Obama administration is likely to deploy more troops in Afghanistan, but it is expected that it would have to pull out finally because the coalition troops are now becoming ‘hostages’ in the war-torn country.

He said Pakistan cannot be bracketed with countries like Iraq and those who think this way are totally wrong, because there is a democratically elected government that has the ability to cope with the emerging challenges.

Showing a little bit pessimism about the appointment of Hillary Clinton as the US Secretary of State, he said she would follow those foreign policies introduced and promoted by the Clinton administration.

He said: “It will be a wishful thinking if any hopes that there would be any drastic change in the US foreign policy, but the Obama administration will keep in mind the economic recession that is generally dubbed as a direct result of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

“Most American want to see America as the most influential country in the world despite the fact that they are generally not concerned about their foreign policies,” he said.

He underlined some facts that according to him would have a key role in the upcoming US foreign policy that include personal vision of Barrack Obama, capability of political system to introduce radical changes and understanding of the long-standing international issues.

To a question about the US-Iran relations, he opined the Obama administration would go for talks with Iran, adding it can also show some diplomatic concessions to Syria.

Replying to a question about prospects of US-China mutual relations, he said the Bush administration has been pursuing a very pragmatic approach and if the next administration continues to follow it, the US would certainly benefit from it.

ISS DG Tanvir Ahmad Khan while speaking on the occasion said Barrack Obama has been selling the idea of change and now the Gaza situation would be his first highly important diplomatic challenge soon after his oath-taking for the office of the president.

He said George W. Bush emerged as a warrior president and he never looked back on his policies after the 9/11 incidents that brought high level of aggression in the US foreign policies.

“US president George W. Bush declared a war on terror but it only encouraged the terrorist outfits to further expand their network in the world,” he said.

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Iran demands Israeli pullout of Gaza

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TEHRAN: Iran said on Sunday an Israeli ceasefire in Gaza is not enough to stop conflict with Palestinian militants and called for a full pullout of Israeli forces from the Hamas-run enclave.

“A mere halt of air, sea and ground attacks without the forces’ withdrawal from occupied positions is not sufficient to stop the clashes,” Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in a statement.

“The forces’ stay in these places is provocative per se and there is no guarantee for an end to the clashes,” he said.

At 2:00 am (0000 GMT) Sunday Israel unilaterally halted its 22-day offensive in Gaza which killed more than 1,300 Palestinians.

Mottaki said the decision indicated that Israeli “leaders have failed to achieve their declared objectives.”

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Saturday announced the end to offensive operations but said troops would stay in Gaza for the time being with orders to return fire if attacked.

Hamas, an Islamist group which has ruled Gaza since June 2007 and is sworn to the destruction of the Jewish state, has said it will not accept the presence of a single Israeli soldier in the territory.

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Sri Lankan Cricket Team Arrived Karachi Today

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KARACHI: Led by Mahela Jayawardene, a 14-member Sri Lankan squad arrived Karachi today, on the first phase of their tour to Pakistan to play three One-Day International against the home team starting from January 20. Sanath Jayasuriya had reached Karachi this morning.

The first two Day/Night ODIs will be played at National Stadium on January 20-21 while third match of the series will be played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on January 24.

After the short ODI series, Sri Lankan will return back to Pakistan on February 14 to play a three-day side game and two Test matches against the hosts in February/March.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has arranged the tour after India pulled-off of their schedule tour to Pakistan after Mumbai attacks.

Visiting Sri Lankan squad comprises of Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Angelo Mathews.

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Full players Data of Sri Lanka Cricket Team

Upcoming Cricket schedule

Bipasha Says My Work is My Life

this news update by www.breakinglaert.blogspot.com
Back in Srinagar to shoot for ‘Lamhaa’, Bipasha Basu says that she’s not going to risk her life for a film. This is what the dusky beauty says about the issue.

“Too much was made out of the whole thing (when Bips left the schedule in Srinagar earlier). Lamhaa is a difficult film. There was bound to be ups and downs. The producer and director knew why I left. A certain amount of security was promised. The first seven days were absolute chaos – nothing was organised and there was a lack of security,” she said.

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“Yes, my work is my life. But then, I’ve a life beyond work. I’m not going to risk my life unnecessarily for any film. Who comes to hold your hand when you’re in pain? Let’s be optimistic,” she added.

She said, “This time, hopefully, we’ll shoot without any trouble. Let’s be sensible about it. Lamhaa is a sensible film and it would be difficult for audiences to follow (the language and behaviour of the local Kashmiri girls, which she’d planned to learn earlier). At the end of the day, we’re making a commercial film.”

“I love working with Rahul Dholakia (the director of Lamhaa ). He’s fun and funny. We’ve a strange equation. He looked at me at the start and asked if I am a method actor. I liked that. It showed the director had enough respect in me to first find out what kind of an actress I am,” she added.

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Kareena Kapoor

Mumbai probe put on fast track

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ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik on Saturday said the inquiry team on the Mumbai attacks has been asked to submit its initial report within 10 days.

However, he made it clear that the whole course of action would be taken according to the Pakistani laws.

To a question, the adviser rejected any pressure either from the Indian government or from British Foreign Secretary David Milliband, saying: “Neither we accepted any pressure earlier nor we will accept it now.”

India should allow their investigators to interact with Pakistani counterparts for immediate result, he told a press conference.

He said the team had been directed to conduct transparent and legally tangible inquiry.

He said the team would establish legally verifiable credentials of the suspects allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks, inquire into the available information supplied by India with a view to transforming it into evidence and collect other related evidence for legal action according to the law of Pakistan.

He said the government would bring the culprits to justice if they were found involved in the crime.

However, to a question, he said the leads obtained so far were out of Pakistan. “I do not want to say anything at this stage as the investigators are already looking into the information provided by India,” he added.

He said that cases could be registered only on the basis of tangible evidence and more time could be given to the investigators if necessary.

Malik said the Indian government could also be requested to provide more information to help the ongoing inquiry in Pakistan.

He advised India to be patient and allow time for the completion of the inquiry. He pointed out that India had taken around 40 days to provide information on the Mumbai investigations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in Multan on Saturday that Pakistan would not only share information about the Mumbai attacks with India and other friendly countries but would also pursue questions arising out of it to ensure a cooperative engagement.

Talking to reporters here, FM Qureshi said Pakistan had received a dossier from India through its high commission and it had been handed over to the Interior Ministry for further action. He said the Interior Ministry not only examined the dossier but also formed a three-member commission comprising experienced investigators and reputable officers to conduct investigations.

Qureshi said after examining the dossier and Pakistan’s own investigations, information from other sources would also be shared in a transparent manner with India and other friendly country.

To a question, he said five training camps linked to the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba had been closed down in accordance with the government’s clear policy that it would not allow utilisation of its soil for such activities.

He said Pakistan would hold trial of any Pakistani individual or entity in free, fair and transparent manner if investigations proved their involvement in the Mumbai attacks. ìIndian leaders’ statements showed their flip-flop approach but Pakistan is consistent in its stance and sincerely wants to unveil elements involved in it and to bring the perpetrators to justice,î he said.

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Hamas leader confirms one-week truce offer

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GAZA: Mussa Abu Marzuq, the exiled number two of the Islamist Hamas movement which controls Gaza, announced a one-week truce to allow Israeli troops to withdraw, in a speech on Syrian state television.

"The Israeli enemy has failed in its bid to impose conditions. We in the Palestinian resistance movements announce a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and demand that enemy forces withdraw in a week and open all the border crossings to permit the entry of humanitarian aid and basic goods," Abu Marzuq said.

"We are ready to accept all efforts, particularly those of the Egyptians, Turks, Syrians and Qataris, to reach an agreement that meets our known demands, namely the lifting once and for all of the blockade and the opening of all the crossing points, including the Rafah crossing" between Gaza and Egypt.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the Jewish state does "not negotiate with Hamas. Hamas is not a partner.

"Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire of offensive activities against Hamas. If Hamas does not attack Israel and does not provoke Israel, we will honour the ceasefire."

Regev declined to say when or if Israel planned to open Gaza border crossings, which it has largely kept closed ever since Hamas seized power in the enclave in June 2007.


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A Power Full 5 Blast In Lahore, Pakistan

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LAHORE: Five blasts occurred in Lahore on Friday, however, no casualties were reported.

The fifth blast occurred at Mazang Chungee near Tamaseel Theatre here today.

Rescue teams sent to the blast site immediately.

The blast damaged a gas pipeline, causing the gas to leak in the area.

According to an eye-witness, a man was seen running away after throwing a hand grenade at the site of the blast.

Earlier, four blasts occurred in quick succession near Al-falah theatre on Mall Road in Lahore on Friday, however, no loss of life was reported.

Two persons were arrested from the blasts site.

According to the bomb disposal squad, the blasts could have been caused by RDX or C-3 which only caused minor damage to buildings. However, CCPO Lahore said that the initial investigation indicates that the blasts were carried out by fire-crackers.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif directed the Home Secretary to submit report regarding the blasts in 24 hours.

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India and Pakistan Tension To Harm Terror War, Warns Zardari

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has warned that an escalation in Indo-Pak tension might harm the war on terror in the region, urging the United States to play a concrete role in solving the Kashmir dispute rationally.

Talking to U.S. Vice President-elect Joseph Biden who called on him here Friday at President House, President Zardari linked the durable peace in the region with the rational solution of Kashmir dispute and urged the U.S. to play its role in this regard.

The two leaders discussed various issues of bilateral interests in their meeting, also attended by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s ambassador to United States of America Hussain Haqqani and US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson.

President Zardari apprised the Vice President elect about Pakistan’s commitment and the measures being taken by the government in the war against militancy, extremism and terrorism.

He also apprised him of his recent successful visit to Afghanistan where the two countries also signed a joint declaration. He said Pakistan believed in peace and stability in Afghanistan.

President Zardari informed the visiting US official that Pakistan is working on a multi-pronged policy to counter extremism and terrorism in its land and wants peaceful relations with all its neighbors, including India.

He declared that Pakistan is committed to unveil the culprits of Mumbai terrorist attacks.

The U.S VP-elect said the new US administration believes in having a long, real and broad commitment to Pakistan with a view to support its stability and nascent democracy.

Biden said the United States of America was positive in terms of assisting Pakistan as it was its important ally and partner.

Joseph Biden is visiting South Asia with a bipartisan congressional delegation and as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

A statement from Biden’s Senate office said the purpose of this trip was fact-finding.

In the coming months both the executive and legislative branches will carefully review US policy toward this region, and the trip will allow the participants to bring current and first-hand information to these reviews, Biden’s senate spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander earlier said.

The vice president-elect is also accompanied by Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina of the US Armed Services Committee.

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Truth on Kasav embarasses Pakistan PM

this news update by www.brekingalert.blogspot.com
The Kasav saga has backfired in a big way on the Pakistan government. Hours after Pakistan’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Mahmud Ali Durrani was sacked for speaking the truth on Ajmal Amir Kasav’s origins, in a startling comment, the Pakistan Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani has admitted that Durrani’s speaking the truth, embarrassed him greatly.

Moreover, government sources told Pakistan media that the Pakistan Prime Minister was upset because Durrani’s admission robbed him of the chance of making the dramatic disclosure on Kasav. Gilani on Wednesday (January 7) dismissed his NSA Major General (retd) Mehmud Ali Durrani for being a ‘bit too candid’ on the tricky issue of Mumbai carnage suspect Ajmal Kasav, without having taken him into confidence.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, a furious Prime Minister Gilani reportedly told some journalists that his ‘national security adviser had embarrassed me’ and the country by going public with the report of Kasav’s nationality without his permission.

Another Pakistan’s television channel quoted sources close to the ousted adviser as having said that whatever he had told the media about Ajmal Kasav and the findings of the Pakistani investigators were in the knowledge of the president.

The sacking of the NSA of Pakistan for disclosing the nationality of Kasav has triggered chaos and bitter infighting in the political circles of the country. The late-night decision by Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sparked speculations about growing fissures within the ruling party, and perhaps among the various pillars of the establishment on the handling of crucial and sensitive matters of national security.

The summary dismissal also comes amid reports of tension within the government, particularly between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, on various issues linked to the decision-making process.

Meanwhile, highly informed sources in the government were quoted in the media as saying that the security agencies investigating the Kasav affair had already prepared their report which, through the ministry of interior, had been passed on to the prime minister for a formal decision.

The probe had concluded that Ajmal Kasav was a Pakistani national, but it was left to the government, or the prime minister, to decide when to make it public. Sources were quoted saying that Durrani was apparently sacked because the leak had not only caught the prime minister off guard, but perhaps also deprived him of the credit for breaking the news.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

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PML(Q) not to merge in any other party: Pervaiz Elahi

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PML-Q central leader Ch Pervaiz Elahi has said that party’s central executive committee has decided to maintain its separate identity.

Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Pervaiz Elahi said that PML-Q would not make any alliance or merger with any other party. So far, one-year performance of the two ruling parties has been disappointing, he noted.

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Blast in India, Guwahati, at least two killed, 5 injured

this news update by www.breakingalert.blogspot.com
A powerful bomb planted by militants exploded in crowded Maligaon area, near Kamakhya hills, in Guwahati on Friday, killing at least two and injuring five persons. The blast took place at around 6.15 pm near a bazar, Assam police spokesperson Jayashree said.

The bomb was planted on a bicycle near a market. The injured have been taken to the railway hospital in the city. So far, no outfit has accepted the responsibility for the blasts. Assam had been rocked by serial blasts for the past several months and in the last one on New Year's Day three blasts in the city claimed five lives.


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Nawaz Sharif Declines To Meet Asif Zardari For Photo Sessions

this news update by www.breakingalert.com
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, under immense political pressure at home, has sent at least three messages to PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif for a summit meeting but the invitations have been declined because, according to a top PML-N leader “we do not want any more photo sessions in the Presidency.”

According to credible sources, the three messages were sent through different emissaries, political and non-political, in the last five days.

A PML-N leader told The News on Saturday that his party’s top leadership did not want any more photo sessions and that any meeting between the top leadership of the two major parties could only take place once the promises made to the nation were fulfilled, and a very clear agenda, including repealing the 17th Amendment strictly in accordance with the Charter of Democracy, was formulated.

Sources said that an adviser to the Punjab chief minister, who formerly was a senior bureaucrat, met PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday, carrying a message from Interior Ministry Czar Rehman Malik that an immediate meeting should be arranged between President Zardari and Nawaz Sharif.

Rehman gave the message to the former bureaucrat during a meeting in Islamabad some days ago and it was conveyed to the PML-N chief on Wednesday.

Yet another message was conveyed late Tuesday night during a telephone call to the PML-N chief by a fabulously rich town developer, having excellent relations with the top PPP leadership. This top town developer of the country conveyed President Zardari’s message that the president wanted an immediate meeting in the developing scenario and a worsening situation and wanted to talk on “every issue” now.

According to sources, this town developer contacted the PML-N chief after many months as his last talk with Sharif was on August 7, 2008, when he played the role of a guarantor.

A source, privy to the information, said the PML-N chief complained to the town developer and asked him where he had disappeared for five long months after giving guarantees. “Mian Nawaz Sharif asked him about the promises of August 7 and questioned why should he be trusted now. What is the need now for more meetings for negotiating the same issues?”

The messenger, however, tried to reassure the PML-N chief that now the ‘promises’ will be fulfilled.

When no positive response came from the PML-N, finally, President Zardari himself called Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday and invited his elder brother for a meeting in the Presidency to start a fresh round of talks, the first among the two top leaders and then between the top leadership of the two parties.

The PML-N leadership, however, insists on a result-oriented meeting whose agenda, including the restoration of the deposed judges, should be decided beforehand.

A senior PML-N leader was also of the view that even if such meetings were necessary, the messages should be conveyed through political channels and not through non-political players.

Spokesman of the Presidency Farhatullah Babar, when approached by The News for version, said that according to his knowledge, no formal contact had been made with the top PML-N leadership for some fresh round of talks.

“You know, political leaders often make contacts off and on telephone or through friends but according to my information, no such development has taken place in the last few days,” Babar insisted.

When Babar was asked that according to credible information, the top PML-N leadership had been sent three different messages through political and non-political players and that the PML-N leaders said they did not want more photo sessions, Babar replied that he would not comment on hypothetical questions as according to his information no such contacts were made.

Insiders say that some sincere leaders of both the parties remain in touch despite all what has happened in the last nine months. These leaders include Raza Rabbani of the PPP and Ishaq Dar of the PML-N; however, both do not make the real decisions and feel desperate about the overall situation.

Sources say both want an immediate implementation of the promises made to the nation so that a meaningful round of talks could be initiated between the two major parties to stabilise the situation and tackle the grave crises facing the country.

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Qureshi calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

this news update by www.breakingalert.com
MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said situation is heading towards positive direction with India, but still all is not well.

Talking to newsmen at the Multan Airport on Sunday, Foreign Minister said government’s policy statement could not be issued on the basis of newspaper reports.

He informed US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher is arriving in Pakistan but declined to disclose the purpose of his visit to Islamabad.

To a question on Pakistan-India tension, Qureshi said we had three objectives to defuse tension with India – first to avert the threat of war, secondly to prevent Pakistan of being isolated in the international community and third objective was aimed at safeguarding Pakistan from internal instability.

The minister noted that situation was improving in the wake of Pakistan’s positive proposals to defuse tension. He said that talks with India should not only be resumed but also proceed in positive manner. Pakistan wants better relation with all its neighbors, he commented.

The entire region is threatened by the menace of terrorism and Pakistan is facing several challenges, he said, adding that internal issues need to be resolved first.

Foreign Minister added Pakistan-India tension had been defused over efforts made by other countries of the region. About replacement of prime minister and the government, Qureshi said it has no truth and termed these reports as rumors.

Qureshi condemned the Israeli offensive in Gaza and demanded of immediate halt. “We have a clear stance that Pakistan is along with its Palestinian brothers,” he said and added that Islamic world should jointly raise the voice against Israel.

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