1 hour, 31 minutes ago Middle East - AP (following site rules, however, I am not posting this in "Latest Breaking News")
By LARA SUKHTIAN, Associated Press Writer
JERICHO, West Bank - Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas received a warm welcome in his first public campaign rally, generating some excitement for the low-key politician's effort to succeed Yasser Arafat.
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Israel is quietly backing Abbas, who is the clear front-runner in opinion polls. Israel considers Abbas, who has spoken out against violence, to be a moderate pragmatist.
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On Wednesday, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small hard-line faction, endorsed Barghouti.
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About 80 international observers will watch polling stations in the West Bank and Gaza.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians