Abu Marzouq dispels reports of postponement of reconciliation meeting

The deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau, Dr Musa Abu Marzouq, has revealed that the date for the reconciliation talks between Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Meshaal has been brought forward by one day to Wednesday 24th November. Abu Marzouq told Palestinian media sources that the Hamas delegation will arrive in Egypt on Wednesday, dispelling reports about the possibility of the postponement of the meeting because of the present unrest in Cairo.

Concerning the identity of the new Palestinian prime minister and the reports of Salam Fayad’s removal from office, the Hamas leader said; ‘the brothers in Fatah are the ones who actually proposed discharging Salam Fayad, and he has expressed his desire not to be in charge of the next government.’

With regards to whether specific names have been suggested for the premiership, Abu Marzouq said, ‘discussions were held about the general principles for the next government and the details have been left for the meeting between Meshaal and Abbas in Cairo.’

Concerning the issue of the political detainees and the repeated demands to the Palestinian Authority to release them as a gesture of goodwill to ensure the success of the meeting, Abu Marzouq said, ‘first of all we in Gaza have released all the detainees and whoever remains we have prepared a list with the reasons for their continued detention; so what is required is that the brothers in Fatah release the detainees in the West Bank and if this happens no doubt this would be a positive step.’