Hamas to 'stand by' Abbas if he refuses Kerry plan

Hamas is ready to “strongly stand” beside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas if he refuses the framework peace deal proposed by the US Secretary of State John Kerry, a senior Hamas official said on Wednesday.

In a meeting with Palestinian writers and authors in Gaza, Imad Al-Alami said: “Kerry’s plan is dangerous and its basic aim is to dissolve the Palestinian issue. Hamas is ready to strongly stand beside Abbas if he says no to its implementation.”

Al-Alami considers talks between the PA and the Israeli occupation are the main obstacle against an internal Palestinian reconciliation. He called for all Palestinian factions to adopt a united position in the face of these talks.

“The sole exit for this is national unity and starting a comprehensive national dialogue, including all Palestinian factions,” he said.

Al-Alami welcomed the potential visit of the senior Fatah leader Azzam Al-Ahmad, who is in charge of the reconciliation dossier, to the Gaza Strip. “This is an advanced positive step towards reconciliation,” he said.

He reiterated that his movement is eager to accept everything that has been previously decided upon during historic national agreements, noting that “people agreements to be implemented, not discussions of new ones.”

The senior Hamas leader said: “Ending the division needs common understanding between Hamas and Fatah in order to find ways to implement agreements on the ground.” He stressed that his movement is interested in the reconciliation based on a strong grounds.

Calling for certain bodies, who think Hamas is concerned with the reconciliation based on feeling weak and isolated, he said: “They have to review their views”. He said that Hamas experienced many difficult situations and exited them safely.