Last update - 00:00 18/02/2007
Hamas calls on U.S. to deal with PA national unity gov't positively
By The Associated Press
DAMASCUS, Syria - Hamas on Sunday called on the United States and the international community to deal positively and reasonably with the new Palestinian national unity government.
Moussa Abu Marzouk, Hamas deputy leader, accused Washington of fully adopting Jerusalem's policies, and urged the Bush administration to take a reasonable stand toward, and look positively upon, the new Palestinian government.
Abu Marzouk, who lives in exile in Syria along with Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshal, told reporters that the Palestinians are used to Washington's negative stand, but that the group must deal with the U.S. administration because the U.S. is the only superpower which has influence over Israel.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has submitted the resignation of his Hamas-led Cabinet to Abbas, paving the way for the formation of a national unity government with Abbas' Fatah party.
Abu Marzouk said the new government "will abide by the national accord document that was signed ... in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and the authorization letter of the government sent by Abbas to Haniyeh."
But he also said he hoped the new government will be able to end the sanctions imposed on the Palestinians over Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence against it.
In the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun, Haniyeh accused the U.S. and Israel on Sunday of trying to sabotage the unity deal.
"The American and Israeli interference today aim to destroy the basic principles and the basis of the Palestinian cause ... and to divert our cause, he told some 2,000 supporters, adding that he would go ahead with forming the coalition government.