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Hamas-Fat'h Reconciliation Agreement Reached, Forming National Unity Government

April 23, 2014

Palestinian leaders from Fat'h and Hamas after signing the reconciliation agreement in Gaza, April 23, 2014	Abu Marzooq, Al-Ahmed, Haniya

Haniya: Division is over

[ 23/04/2014 - 08:56 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Gaza premier and deputy chairman of Hamas’s political bureau Ismail Haniya has declared in a press conference on Wednesday that the Palestinian internal division was over.

He was speaking after conclusion of the second session of reconciliation talks held in his home with a PLO delegation. He said that both teams, Hamas and the PLO, had worked in the spirit of a single team.

The years of division have come to an end, Haniya said, adding that an agreement was reached on implementing previous reconciliation agreements and forming a national unity government.

He said that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, according to the agreement, is to start immediately consultations with all national factions and forces to form a new national consensus government within five weeks.

At the same time a committee entrusted with reactivating the PLO would start its work within five weeks, he said, adding that elections would be determined six months after forming the government.

Palestinian national consensus government to be formed within weeks

[ 23/04/2014 - 04:29 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Bassam al-Salhi, a member of reconciliation committee and Secretary General of the Palestinian People’s Party, confirmed that reconciliation meetings resulted in a roadmap that will put an end to Palestinian division by forming an immediate national consensus government.

The roadmap includes the establishment of a consensus government in five weeks and holding general elections in six months, he added.

Al-Salhi stressed that agreement also includes restructuring the political system, and activating the PLO, in addition to addressing all issues agreed upon.

The agreement is scheduled to be implemented immediately after the end of the meetings.

For his part, First Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Dr. Ahmed Bahar has expressed his appreciation to the ongoing national reconciliation efforts.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Bahar welcomed the reconciliation agreement which is based on national partnership and united efforts against the occupation.

Bahar stated that the general atmosphere is ready for the implementation of national reconciliation especially after negotiation path's failure.

The next Palestinian phase needs united efforts to foil Israeli Judaization schemes in occupied Jerusalem and Palestinian lands.

For his part, MP Mushir al-Masri, a senior leader in Hamas movement, stated that the second round of reconciliation talks has mainly focused on freedoms file.

“We have achieved an important phase in reconciliation talks most notably was determining a date for general elections”, he said.

“We are on the threshold of effective implementation of national reconciliation”, he said, calling for a Palestinian united position against Israeli aggression.

He stressed his movement's full support to Fatah movement in face of any Israeli threats.

Meanwhile, reliable sources confirmed to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter that PLO and Hamas delegations have agreed to form a consensus government in five weeks and holding general elections in six months.

On the other hand, a member of Fat'h's central committee Amal Hamad said that they have agreed with Hamas movement to form a government in five weeks.

The delegations have seriously discussed yesterday national files including forming a government, holding elections after six months, and activating the Palestine Liberation Organization, she explained.

Hamad confirmed that a positive atmosphere has prevailed during the reconciliation meetings, as all parties were determined to end the division and to restore national unity.

“I hope that this positive atmosphere will continue without any future obstacles”, she added.

“We need to implement the reconciliation agreement by forming a government within the next five weeks, giving the President a chance to set a date for elections in six months, and activating the PLO”, Hamad underlined.

Hamas-Fat'h reconciliation breakthrough: From dream to reality

[ 23/04/2014 - 01:28 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Hamas’s spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri pointed out early on Wednesday that the first round of reconciliation meetings between Hamas and the PLO team ended on Wednesday at 01.30 a.m.

Abu Zuhri pointed out in a statement to the auspicious circumstances in which the meeting was held. The negotiations will resume in another session on Wednesday at 11 a.m

The five-member PLO delegation arrived in Gaza yesterday evening for meetings to discuss the Fatah-Hamas longed-for reconciliation.

The delegation was warmly welcomed by PM Ismail Haniya who vowed that “division will come to an end.”

Dr. Khalil al-Hayyah, member of Hamas Political Bureau, confirmed in a statement that the circumstances in which the negotiations have been resumed are as propitious as the inaugurating meeting. Reconciliation talks are setting up measures to make a leap forward towards the execution phase.

PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s five-member team arrived in Gaza on Tuesday evening.

Along the same line, Ismail Haniya, vice president of Hamas Political Bureau, has called for the immediate execution of the national reconciliation initiatives pledged in Cairo and Doha agreements.

Haniya declared, as he welcomed the delegation: “The execution phase has come close. All partakers should be up to the commitments we have just agreed upon. No more time should be frittered away in further negotiation sessions.”

 “We are here today to confirm to the Palestinians and the world that this is our people’s own and only decision.”

Haniya further called attention to the need to end division and “form a unified government so as to be able to schedule a national program and reach a decision over the way the Palestinian political scene should be ruled.”

“All factions and groups should assume responsibility vis-à-vis the ongoing reconciliation journey. The situation is quite alarming. We are running short of time. Cooperation is our only way out. Our oppressed Palestinian people should be assured that a new day has come.”

In a message to the five-member delegation Haniya said: “We are eager to reach an agreement. No way we can give up the reconciliation dream now. No more turning downs are allowed at this stage. This is the Palestinians’ dream, Israelis’ nightmare, coming true now.”

“We take it upon ourselves to protect our Islamic and Christian sanctities from Israeli desecration scenarios in Occupied Jerusalem and Palestine. We will never give up our right of return; neither will we leave our prisoners alone in their fight for freedom” Haniya maintains.

“We should be all part of the struggle. One hand can’t clap. Cooperation is the key.”

Haniya further declared: “Hamas has never and will never be afraid of fair elections. Fair suffrage is a tenet we should all clutch on to in order to swap over power through peaceful and non-discriminatory franchise.”

During the meeting, Haniya hailed the Palestinian freedom fighters who sacrificed their blood and soul to defend Palestine’s sacred soil along with the prisoners held in Israeli jails. Haniya expressed gratitude to the citizens of Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa sit-inners.

"We are going through the most challenging and risky phase ever. Israeli judaization conspiracies and unmeasured settlement plans at the expense of our land rights along with the horrendous torture-campaigns launched against our prisoners and the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip are making matters worse for us.”

“But such American-Israeli conspiracies will never let us down. We are resistant and spirited enough to defeat whatever comes our way. History proves that their wicked attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause have always been vain.”

"This why we should all be up to the current challenges. All the Palestinian generations take us for the nation’s redeemers. We should never let them down. Let us work together to bring the struggle to fruition.”

Haniya concluded by stating: "Our reconciliation journey should not be formulaic. We are not just looking forward to shake hands with our Fat'h brothers. We should take practical measures to go beyond such superficial mechanics and make up for what we have failed to spot for years.”

“The spatio-temporal character of the Palestinian cause does no longer bear more breakouts or delays. It is high time we irrigated our people’s thirst,” Haniya concluded.

Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of Fat'h’s Central Committee and leader of the PLO team, was of the same mind as Haneiya when he stressed the need to come to a national agreement over reconciliation endeavors and turn the back on split dilemmas. 

Al-Ahmad said as he praised Haniya’s buoyant speech: “Countdown has started to bring the notorious division chapter to a halt.”

“Our yearning for reconciliation is as deeply-entrenched within our souls as all Palestinian mountains and Gaza waters. We cannot wait to see our dream and that of every Palestinian offspring come true. Such a reconciliation journey is the breakthrough that will change our history once and for all. “

“We’ve come from so far a distance to put such aspirations into effect. The equation is turning in our favor now. We shall never recoil.”

“We cannot separate the inseparable. We just can’t! We’ve been all historically sharing the same land, the same journey, the same stand-up fights, and, above all, the same blood. Nobody can sever the chord that links us all to our holy land. We can never turn blood into water! This is impossible!”

“The journey is still very long. This is not the destination but the starting point. Let’s not just turn the page but cut it out at one fell swoop, once and for all,” Al-Ahmed declared.

Taher Nunu, Palestinian PM media adviser, was no less optimistic when de described the first reconciliation talks as “harbingers of good omens.”

Yousuf slams Cortes for urging Hamas to give up its struggle against occupation

[ 24/04/2014 - 07:59 AM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

Senior Hamas official Hassan Yousuf denounced Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Cortes for demanding his Movement to recognize Israel and renounce its resistance following its reconciliation with Fatah faction, describing his remarks in this regard as unacceptable interference in inter-Palestinian affairs.

"Any interference in the Palestinian affairs by external parties is utterly unacceptable, and no one has the right to tell us what to do or pressure us," Yousuf stated in press remarks to the Palestinian information center (PIC).

The Hamas official stressed that the Palestinian reconciliation is an internal issue and the Palestinian people alone has the right to decide their own fate.

Cortes made his comments on the Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah yesterday at the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority foreign ministry in Ramallah city.

He expressed his hope that the Palestinian reconciliation agreement could lead Hamas to recognize Israel and give up what he labeled as violence.