Hamas, Islamic Jihad refuse to sign final statement after Russia meeting

Hamas and Islamic Jihad today refused to sign the final statement of the Moscow meetings.

Islamic Jihad’s leader – who is a member of the delegation to Moscow – explained the decision, saying that “we refused to sign the paper because it reiterates that the [Palestine Liberation Organisation] PLO is the legal and sole representative of the Palestinians, without noting its reformation”.

He added: “The paper also calls for the creation of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Meanwhile, Fatah’s representative in the meetings Azzam Al-Ahmad told Al-Ghad TV: “The meetings broke the ice engulfing the relations among the Palestinian factions.”

Hamas’ representative Musa Abu-Marzouq also spoke to Al-Ghad, saying: “The meetings came after a period of stagnation among the Palestinian factions and pave the way ahead of resuming the reconciliation talks.”

No more details have been revealed about the positions of the other Palestinian factions which participated in the meetings.

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