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Hamas, PLO Announce Talks to Form Palestinian Unity Gov’t

 Hamas, PLO Announce Talks to Form Palestinian Unity Gov’t
folder_openPalestine access_time9 years ago
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Hamas and Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) representatives announced a historic unity deal, paving the way for new elections and the formation of a unity government within weeks, in a press conference as Ma'an news agency reported on Wednesday.

 Hamas, PLO Announce Talks to Form Palestinian Unity Gov’t

Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh announced the end of years of Palestinian political division in a press conference in Gaza City, saying that the sides announced they will begin discussions to form a unity government.
He said that the Hamas and PLO delegations had worked as "one team" throughout the reconciliation dialogue and had stressed the necessity of achieving results in this round of dialogue.

An interim government could be finalized in the next five weeks, with elections possible by early 2015, Fatah spokesman Fayez Abu Eitta said.

The unity deal authorized the Palestinian president to set a date for new elections, and emphasized the commitment of both sides to the reconciliation principles that had been agreed upon in the Cairo Agreement and the Doha Declaration.
Fatah leader Azzam al-Ahmad said that neither side will accept the resumption of negotiations with "Israel" without clear guidelines, and that negotiations had stalled as a result of "'Israel' intransigence" and "American bias."

Al-Ahmed expressed optimism at the outcome of negotiations with the PLO faction, saying that, "We are reunited. We extend all appreciation and thanks to our brother Ismail Haniyeh for the significant role he has played during the two meetings over the last two days.

The sides also emphasized the need to reactivate the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Shortly after Wednesday's announcement, "Israel" launched an air raid in the northern Gaza Strip, Reuters reported. The strike injured 12 people, some of them children as young as five, according to medical sources in Gaza.

"Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to the announcement, cancelling a planned session of peace talks with Palestinian negotiators on Wednesday after news of a unity deal between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hamas was announced.

"(Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas) needs to choose between peace with ‘Israel' and an agreement with Hamas...Whoever chooses Hamas does not want peace," Netanyahu said in a statement released on Wednesday.
"Israel's" security cabinet prepared to meet on Thursday morning to weigh its response to a unity deal struck between the Palestinian factions.

Public radio said ministers were likely to announce fresh retaliatory measures on top of a raft of financial sanctions unveiled this month when the Palestinians applied to join 15 international treaties.

Netanyahu's office said it was for ministers to decide whether to announce any new measures after Thursday's meeting.
In Washington, state department spokesperson Jen Psaki said the US was troubled by the announcement, which "could seriously complicate" negotiations to extend peace negotiations.

"It is hard to see how ‘Israel' can be expected to negotiate with a government that doesn't believe in its right to exist." She also indicated there could be broader implications for an array of US policies towards Palestine, including aid, should Hamas enter into government without abiding a set of principles, including recognition of ‘Israel', agreement to previous agreements, and a commitment to non-violence, dictated by Washington.

The Palestinian Authority and "Israel" face an April 29 deadline to agree on a framework for a comprehensive so- called "peace" treaty.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

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