Palestinian reconciliation must take priority

Palestinian parliamentarian and Secretary-General of the Palestine National Initiative (PNI), Mustafa Barghouti has urged Fatah and Hamas to implement reconciliation agreements signed by both with the Freedom Committee. Speaking to Arab Today, Barghouti said Palestinian division only benefits Israel, because it excludes the Gaza Strip from the political equation. The Palestinian activist said that the Israeli side must not be given the opportunity replicate false stories as it did during the Camp David negotiations, where it blamed Palestinians for failed talks. Barghouti added that Israel is making every effort to undermine the two-state solution. He urged the Palestinian leadership to adopt a different approach and strategy in dealing with Israel, adding that 1993's Oslo Agreement had failed. Barghouti argued that Israel is building settlements to erode the chance of a two-state solution, and suppress the Palestinians' right to return to their territories. The PNI leader asserted that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is "illegal," and denounced the expulsion of Palestinian people from Jerusalem. He urged Palestinian groups to unite and defend the holy city of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque in the face of Israeli aggression. Barghouti said that there is a need to reaffirm freedoms, such as the freedom for Palestinian factions to actively participate in politics without any discrimination in West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian activist urged Fatah and Hamas to release all political prisoners, and promote freedom of expression.