Hamas accuses Abbas of violation as reconciliation attempts continue

Palesitnian sources confirmed true to “ArabsToday” the news of new Egyptian efforts being made in an attempt to hold a meeting in Cairo between “Fatah” and “Hamas” in the hope of finding a solution to the pending crisis in regards to forming a new Palestinian government, which falls under the Reconciliation Agreement signed by both sides in Cairo recently. It was quoted by trusted Egyptian media sources that Egypt will be on the move to try and arrange a meeting between “Hamas” and “Fatah,” stressing the fact that “this is not a dialogue but a meeting to ensure the continuous communication and progress in the Reconciliation file that is being sponsored by Egypt.” They also pointed out that “Egypt wants to ensure that reconciliation talks become a reality, as they do not want the government file which could not be fixed by agreement between “Hamas” and “Fatah” to be an obstacle in the implementation of reconciliation.” Additionally, the sources pointed out that there are other files shared in common between “Fatah” and “Hamas” where steps can be taken for positive improvements within them, keeping in mind that Egypt, which sponsors the Reconciliation Agreement, would like to hold continuous meetings between the two movements so there is no spacing between them which would reflect negatively on the Palestinian arena. In turn, Central Committee member of the Fatah movement Mahmoud ALoul confirmed that “communication with “Hamas” has not stopped in regards to finding a solution to overcoming the obstacles facing the formation of the Transitional Government to come.” In a press statement on Saturday evening, Aloul  explained that “ ’Fatah” and ‘Hamas’ will both be meeting in Cairo in a few days time to discuss all the obstacles facing them in the formation of the government,” noting that “the meeting will be important and will deal with all issues including the naming of President.” Ezzat Risheq, a member of the Political Bureau of Hamas, denied in a press statement that “Fatah” and “Hamas” will be meeting soon to talk about finding a solution for the government problem they are facing which was caused by them disagreeing on the person who should be named President in the Transitional Government to come. Risheq said: “There is no truth to the reports about a meeting planned to take place between us and our brothers in Fatah," pointing out that the ongoing communication between the two sides have not stopped.” For his part, leader of the Fatah movement in Gaza Ashraf Jomaa confirmed that “the arrangement to visit the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the Gaza strip is still to this moment under wraps.” On the news reported by some news agencies that the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas sent his representative Rohi Fattouh to the Gaza Strip to arrange for a visit on his behalf, Jomaa said in a press statement on Saturday evening: “Rohi Fattouh’s visit to the Gaza Strip is still unclear, and this visit could be either personal or commissioned by president Abbas.” MP Jomaa noted that Rohi Fattoush did not reach the Strip because the Israeli side refused to coordinate his visit. Jomaa added that “Mahmoud Abbas’s statement to the press last week stating that he will be doing a surprise visit to the Gaza Strip is evidence that there no visit arrangements to this minute.” He also noted that “if Abbas were to decide to come to Gaza then the arrangement would be made with the Gaza government seeing as they are partners in the reconciliation agreement.” As for the formation of government, Jumaa made it clear that no agreement has been made as to who will be named President,” stressing that leaders, whether from “Fatah” or “Hamas” are in a state of urgency to complete the reconciliation. Jomaa considered the delay in government formation is what created frustration amongst the movements, and that the reconciliation agreement should be applied in reality to escape all the problems facing the Palestinian people. While Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said on Saturday evening that “his movement will not allow the formation of government with independent figures under the agreement of reconciliation, unless it is under the consensus and agreement of what is written in the text of the agreement.” Zuhri described Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s hanging on to the idea of nominating Salam Fayyad for presidency as a “violation of the reconciliation agreement.” Zuhri said that his movement “did not impose any candidate for presidency and in turn will not allow any party to impose their candidates on us,” adding that “Hamas” will not give up on “the need for a government formation under the rule of consensus.” This comments by Zuhri were in response to a statement made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, where he accused “Hamas” for putting obstacles in the implementation of a Palestinian reconciliation and confirming that he wants Salam Fayyad as a presidential candidate.