WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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PFLP: Leaders from Hamas, Fatah block dialogue efforts
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-19 20:15 GAZA - A leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) on Sunday accused some senior members of Hamas and Fatah of blocking Egypt's efforts to broker a national Palestinian reconciliation. "There are some people in Gaza Strip and in West Bank who feel the continuation of the rift was one of their interests and there are clear voices which don't help us overcoming the schism," said a leader of PFLP Jamil al-Majdalawi. Hamas has been controlling Gaza Strip since 2007 while the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), dominated by Hamas' bitter rival, Fatah, rules the West Bank. According to al-Majdalawi, those who "conduct political- motivated arrests and block the process of unity" are blamed for blocking the reconciliation. Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza Strip after ousting Fatah and driving out forces loyal to president Mahmoud Abbas. The two movements cracked down against their dissidents, Hamas people in West Bank and Fatah supporters in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, al-Majdalawi slammed Hamas for demanding bilateral talks with Fatah without the participation of the other factions. "We have tried the bilateral solution in Mecca but the two factions renewed their fighting three months later," al-Majdalawi said, referring to a Saudi-brokered pact between Hamas and Fatah to form a unity government. The government collapsed soon as Hamas took over the Gaza Strip by force. Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 and stresses it would not accept any offer for settling the crisis without recognizing the results of the elections. Egypt tries to settle the crisis by launching a national dialogue between the Palestinian factions, especially Hamas and Fatah. |
