Meshaal calls on Arab League's Mussa to name the party impeding reconciliation efforts

The head of the Hamas Political Bureau has called upon the Arab League’s Secretary-General to name the party which is impeding Palestinian reconciliation efforts. In a speech on Monday 28th June, Khalid Meshaal urged Amr Mussa to name the intransigent party.

“Reconciliation is our preferred option, we have worked on it and had many rounds of talks; the result is that a document has been imposed which does not reflect what was agreed upon,” he said. The Arabs, he added, have discovered that there is a “US veto” on Palestinian reconciliation.

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According to Mr. Meshaal, the American priority is to resume negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, not reconciliation between the Palestinian factions, and it is not going to be a priority unless Hamas submits to the conditions set by the Quartet. He pointed out that new ideas have been put forward recently based on a Palestinian understanding of the situation. In his speech, Mr. Meshaal mentioned Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh’s positive approach to facilitate reconciliation and the subsequent positive reaction of Amr Mussa upon hearing of the approach. Mr. Mussa has informed the parties concerned and told Hamas that their new ideas were welcomed by the other party.

“We have been told that [President Mahmoud] Abbas formed a dialogue delegation in order to reach an understanding,” said Mr. Meshaal, “a way out with the Egyptian document, but he backed down and returned to his demand for signing the first paper, and thus the responsibility remains unspecified.” He called upon Mr. Mussa to tell the world who had impeded his reconciliation efforts, especially after the positive response from Hamas and the factions that now stand with the Islamic Resistance Movement.

The head of the Political Bureau told a delegation from the West Bank that he understands the pressure they are under, “but the national conscience should propel you to tell the truth about who is responsible for your efforts failing… you have to say to the media what you said in closed chambers, so Palestinians can know who is obstructing reconciliation”. He also stressed that Hamas will not accept a forced reconciliation and will not accept reconciliation under Quartet conditions.

When asked about Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured in Gaza nearly 4 years ago, Mr. Meshaal said that he will not be released until Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is forced to accept the Hamas demands for his release, including the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. He claimed that the sudden interest in the captured soldier is only due to Israel trying to get world sympathy back on its side after its illegal murderous assault on the Freedom Flotilla last month.

On the question of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and their limited civil rights, Mr. Meshaal said, “We will not choose Lebanon over Palestine but it is shameful to keep the Palestinians in Lebanon without rights under the pretext of fear of resettlement.” He urged those frightened of resettlement to challenge the USA and Israel over the refusal to allow the refugees to return to their homeland, which is their legal right. He also said this charge should be put at the door of some Arab and Palestinian negotiators who have dropped the right of return from the agenda.

In closing. Mr. Meshaal warned of the dangers threatening Jerusalem amid a deafening silence from Palestinian and Arab officials, and paid tribute to the people of Sloan, who clashed yesterday with Israeli forces, as well as the clans and families of Jerusalem who defend Palestinian national symbols.

Source: Palestinian Information Centre