Word: meccas
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...Paid Walk, are completely sold out, but these are early days, and some flashy new theaters like the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Southern California have failed to draw anticipated sellout audiences. Opera expert Payne suggests that Valencia may not achieve its goal of becoming a world opera mecca, but could become a fine regional draw. "Maybe it won't be able to compete with Milan," he says, "but it could be a Rome. It might not be Paris, but it could be a Lyons...
...Similarly, while the U.S. is demanding that Hamas be isolated and is pressuring Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to refrain from forming a unity government with the organization, Saudi Arabia is actively engaging with Hamas and promoting the formation of just such a unity government at talks currently underway in Mecca. Moreover, in the case of both Iran and Hamas, the Saudi position appears to reflect a broader view among Arab regimes that no good can come of the U.S. approach of avoiding engagement with significant regional players simply because it would prefer to keep them out in the cold - isolating...
...member told TIME that Haniyeh and Meshaal are convinced the Bush Administration is putting pressure on Abbas not to strike an accord with Hamas. "The key to a unity government lies with Abbas going against the U.S., which he won't do," the official said. After the talks in Mecca, Abbas is due to meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice...
...leaders of Fatah and Hamas have been deadlocked for months over a power-sharing agreement, and while they bickered, fighting raged between their militias. Until now, Hamas has refused calls by Fatah and the international community to recognize Israel's right to exist. Going into the Mecca meeting, Hamas appeared to be showing flexibility. "We have no choice but to reach an agreement," Haniyeh said, without specifying if his militants would accept Israel's existence. Saudi backing for a Palestinian "unity" government, especially one that is ready to deal with Israel, would help sell the accord to other Arab countries...
...Rival Palestinian leaders know that the Mecca meeting may be the last chance for a lasting truce. In Gaza, armed gunmen from both militias have already carved up the city with roadblocks and sniper positions in anticipation of an all-out war if the Saudi peace initiative fails...