Haniyeh welcomes PA reconciliation delegation

Hamas welcomes the Palestinian Authority delegation’s visit to the Gaza Strip to reconcile differences and end the internal split, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said yesterday.

Haniyeh said in a brief statement following his meeting with PA delegation in Gaza that the Palestinian factions should form a united government and agree on a political agenda in order to end internal divisions.

“We are here to turn a new page in national relations and a real partnership in political decisions. The situation requires a common vision, a decisive will and sincere intentions to end the divisions. The Palestinian people look up to their leaders to save their cause,” the premier said.

Haniyeh called on the need to implement the Doha and Cairo reconciliation agreements and to form an Arab safety net to protect and support the Palestinian reconciliation. He also called for elections to be held in order to proceed with the political process in a democratic manner.

Haniyeh welcomed Hamas senior official Mousa Abu Marzouk who is visiting the enclave to meet with the delegation.

The head of the Fatah delegation, Azzam Al-Ahmad, said the division is nearing its end. “We were at the final stages of announcing the formation of a government but the situation in Egypt prevented that. We aspire to have Egyptian care to end the division.”

Al-Ahmad pointed out that his movement communicates with all Palestinian factions including Islamic Jihad to inform them of the progress of reconciliation.

Al-Ahmad said the Palestinian Legislative Council must be set up once a new government is formed.

Images by MEMO Photographer Mohammed Asad, and Haniyeh’s photographer

[widgetkit id=221]