ABBAS UNFREEZES HAMAS FUNDS; FRANCE WON'T LIST HIZBALLAH AS TERRORIST GROUP

Abbas Unfreezes Hamas Funds - Khaled Abu Toameh
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to unfreeze Hamas funds held in a number of Palestinian banks, Palestinian sources in Gaza City said Monday. Abbas, who served as prime minister in 2003, had then ordered the freezing of several bank accounts belonging to nine charities affiliated with Hamas. (Jerusalem Post)

France Nixes Request to List Hizballah as Terrorist Group - Aluf Benn
French President Jacques Chirac on Monday turned down a request from Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to support placing Hizballah on the EU's list of terrorist organizations. France's objections are considered the main obstacle to an EU move to add Hizballah to the terror list. (Ha'aretz)