Palestinian Factions in Cairo Agree to New PA Unity Government, to Prepare for Elections

[ 27/02/2009 - 09:52 AM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)--

Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fat'h, among other Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo, have agreed Thursday to form an interim national unity government that would manage the Palestinian affairs till next PA elections are held.

Senior Hamas official and deputy-head of the Movement's political bureau Dr. Moussa Abu Marzouq, who heads Hamas's delegation to the inter-Palestinian dialogue in Cairo, confirmed in press conference that five preparatory committees that the factions approved would suggest and specify members of that interim government.

He also disclosed that a "new and special" agreement on Rafah crossing point will be prepared, hailing the Egyptian efforts in reaching that agreement.

As far as the reconstruction of Gaza Strip is concerned, Abu Marzouq explained, "mechanism of reconstruction [in the Gaza Strip] will be delineated by the proposed committees, and since the rebuilding of Gaza is an absolute right of the Palestinian people, then all forms of support for that purpose will be provided".

In their meetings in the Egyptian capital Cairo, leaders of the Palestinian resistance factions agreed to form and name the five committees that, they revealed, would start work on the 10th of next month, and conclude their missions on the 20th of the same month.

They also agreed a sixth committee that would comprise Egypt, the Arab League, and secretary-generals and heads of the Palestinian factions to supervise mechanism of implementation of the proposals.

In a related matter, Palestinian Prime Minister Isma'il Haniya called for comprehensive media reconciliation as he honored journalists working in the Gaza Strip for the efforts they had exerted in covering the brutal Israeli war on Gaza last month.

He also called on PA security forces in the West Bank to immediately and unconditionally release all journalists detained in the PA jails there, and to give the West Bankers the freedom to express their opinions.

The Palestinian Journalist Bloc (PJB) that organized the event, asserted that there were at least five Palestinian journalists, including two correspondents of the newly-launched Al-Quds satellite TV channels, were still detained in the PA jails in the West Bank without charges or trial.

Sulaiman: The dialog is intended for forming a government of all factions

[ 26/02/2009 - 12:22 PM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)--

Omar Sulaiman, the director of the Egyptian intelligence, stated Thursday that the meeting of the Palestinian factions in Cairo is intended for ending the state of division and working on achieving the aspirations of the Palestinian people in forming a government of national unity involving all factions.

At the opening of the national reconciliation convention this morning, Sulaiman said that the Egyptian concern about the Palestinian cause is a sacred duty and national responsibility, adding that Egypt would not forsake the issues of its Arab nation.

The Egyptian official underlined that the results of the inter-Palestinian dialog would be a milestone in the history of the Palestinian people and a glimmer of hope that shifts the Palestinian reality into new horizons.

He also noted that five committee would be formed to deal with the files of the rebuilding of security apparatuses, elections, national reconciliation, the rebuilding of the PLO, the reconstruction of Gaza.

The sessions of the Palestinian national dialog kicked off on Thursday morning in Cairo with the participation of 12 Palestinian factions and seven Arab countries just hours after Hamas and Fatah agreed on stopping media campaigns and the release of all political prisoners in the West Bank and Gaza.

Haniya: The dialog is a way for the national deliverance

[ 26/02/2009 - 10:39 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Palestinian premier Ismail Haniya stated Thursday that the national dialog is a way for the national deliverance and not merely a political tactic, stressing that the priority for the government and the Hamas Movement is to achieve a genuine national reconciliation.

In an exclusive interview conducted by the PIC with the premier before the start of the national dialog in Cairo, Haniya highlighted that the dialog is a bridge towards upholding the Palestinian constants and rights, preserving the dignity, steadfastness and sacrifices of the Palestinian people, and rebuilding the PLO democratically.

The premier added that the dialog should lead to a national government not subject to external pressures and protecting the Palestinian right to resistance, and also to new security apparatuses rebuilt on national foundations away from any security coordination with the occupation.

The premier noted that the Cairo and Makka agreements, and the national accord document as well as the long joint work in the higher follow-up committee for the Intifada in Gaza and the committee of coordination between Palestinian factions in the West Bank represent a solid ground for the success of the dialog.

The premier also said in another context that Hamas's relations with Egypt is a strategic choice and not an emergency interest, adding that Hamas maintained the course of this relations through protecting Egypt's national security and not interfering in its internal affairs.

In another related context, Egyptian journalist Ibrahim Al-Dirawi, an expert in Palestinian affairs, told the PIC that the meetings between Hamas and Fatah which started Tuesday in Cairo would lead to the formulation of a joint statement ending the differences regarding the political arrest issue and media campaigns.

Dirawi added that the Palestinian factions' meeting on Thursday would start with a procedural session followed by separate meetings of the five committees formed to discuss the files of the national reconciliation.

Hamas and Fatah on Wednesday announced during a press conference that they reached understandings providing for a complete halt to media campaigns and the formation of two committees to follow up the files of political prisoners in the West Bank and Gaza.

Hamas political bureau member Izzat Al-Resheq said that that the dialog atmosphere between his Movement and Fatah was positive, expressing hope that all political prisoners in the West Bank would be released during the coming days.

Resheq added that the dialog is underway and cannot be finally judged, stressing the need for making concessions by both parties for the sake of the Palestinian cause.

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