Hamas in Syria spurns plan to reconcile with Fatah
Hamas claims the reconciliation plan must include the Palestinian right to resist Israeli occupation.
By The Associated Press Tags: Hamas Fatah Israel newsThe Syrian-based leadership of the militant Palestinian Hamas said Thursday it has rejected an Egyptian-mediated proposal to reconcile with the rival Fatah group.
Hamas and seven other Damascus-based Palestinian factions issued a joint statement saying the reconciliation plan must be revised to include a reference to the Palestinian right to resist Israeli occupation.
The wording submitted by Cairo to the factions makes no reference to the struggle (with Israel) and the aggression against our people, the statement said, adding the groups wouldn't sign the proposal unless it's amended.
Hamas, a bitter rival of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group, seized control of Gaza two years ago after routing out Fatah forces. The Palestinians have since had two rival governments, with Hamas in control of Gaza, while the Western-backed Fatah governs the West Bank.
Egypt has been trying to mediate between the Palestinians, in a prelude to wider Mideast peace efforts that would include a peace deal with Israel.
In the West Bank, Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan said Hamas' rejection cements Palestinian divisions and that his party was now considering its options, including calling elections unilaterally.
He noted that Hamas has kept a tight lid on its rocket attacks since Israel's fierce offensive in Gaza early this year.
Where is the resistance from Gaza? Dahlan said. They are not interested in Palestinian interests or Palestinian independence. All they care about is keeping power.
Fatah on Wednesday said it has accepted the Egyptian proposal to hold presidential and legislative elections next year as part of a broad package meant to end the bitter rivalry with Hamas, which has complicated U.S.-led efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Fatah says it signed the proposal and dispatched an envoy to Cairo with the response Thursday.
Under the proposal, the Palestinians would hold presidential and legislative elections on June 28.
In the meantime, Hamas would allow some 3,000 Fatah loyalists to return to duty in the security forces in the coastal Gaza Strip. Monitoring committees would work toward establishing a unified Palestinian security force for Gaza and the West Bank, while the rival sides would form a separate committee to work together to prepare for the elections.
The Egyptian proposal has failed to address some key issues in the dispute - most importantly whether a unified Palestinian government would accept international demands to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist.
Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel was a major point of friction in a short-lived Palestinian unity government that disintegrated during the Gaza infighting.
Hamas' top leaders live in exile in Syria because they fear assassinations by Israel in the coastal area. The group's officials in Gaza made no immediate comment on the Damascus statement.
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Gina, Netanyahu has made it very clear that there will be no Palestinian state. There is absolutely nothing any Palestinian might do that would change the position of Israel. Hamas will eventually take control on the West Bank and that will be just further justification for settlement expansion. This will delight the right.
state...as do the palestinian people...abbas, dahlan and fayyad do want US zionist protection from hamas and other resistence movements...it is the US and zionist who dont care about the palestinians and have clearly said that if the palestinians vote in someone they dont like they will support a fatah coup...just like before....why would hamas sign on to thAt?
It started by adventurers & turned into a highway rubbery. Its time to end & expose itself, after their master leader Arafat is no more. The Chairman who controlled all the Chairs. Now, all the Chairs are up for grab; time for the struggle to end and the world must declare the game is over. The Palestinians have no leadership and time for the Palestinians to turn their back to what it was Palestine ! Most of the Palestinians are living happily in Jordan & time they must ask the King of Jordan to forgive them for Black September & to accommodate them. Jordan is their land & only there, the story will have a happy ending.
No unity=no partner for peace=no Palestinian state.
Poor Palestinian!some guys in Gaza must get permission from Meshal,that have to get permission from Damescus,that have to get permission from Tehran for any move.Be it political or military move.the destiny of the Palestinians is decided by that hierarchy.
Hamas:the right to resist Israeli occupation must be included. Fatah:Where is the resistance from Gaza?they are not interested in Palestinian interest or independence.All they care about is keeping power. One wants to have the right to terrorize, and the other accusing him for not terrorizing. BTW,Remeber what Dahlan said,the same as some posters have said of Hamas.It is the Palestinians that say it now.
ahead of their own lusts. Why, Hamas'd lose support among their fan club in the Arab world, wouldn't they?
Ah, but then that's not Hamas' goal, now is it?
It took years, but Israel has totally crushed Abbas, and no one besides the ever optimistic Obama thinks there will be any peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. With Abbas reduced to uselessness, why should Hamas help him out? Egypt has been trying to work things out between the Palestinians, aid in negotiations for the release of Shalit, and promote the peace process. But all it can do is to act as an honest broker. Two years ago Hamas agreed to accept any deal Abbas made as long as it passed a referendum vote by the Palestinian people. Now it knows it is only a matter of time before it controls the West Bank as well as Gaza. Israel would not deal with Abbas, and now it will have to deal with Hamas.
"The Egyptian proposal has failed to address some key issues in the dispute - most importantly whether a unified Palestinian government would accept international demands to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist."
More nonsense from B Gold. Your statement could as easily be written: Peace is the last thing Israeli extremists and lawbreakers want. Peace means the game is up. Peace means they've disappointed their god. Peace means no more excuses. They couldn't bear peace for six months. This is a war to the bitter end. What most Israelis won't see is that extremist Islamic parties like Hezbollah and, to a lesser extent Hamas, are just a mirror image of extremist Jewish parties, including Likud. Both extremes mean to deny the other a state, both are locked in a racial-religious war, both use means that an honorable outsider describes as war crimes, neither is capable of change. Hamas has at least said it will accept the terms of the final status agreement, if approved in a referendum. Likud has never for one second renounced its Eretz Israel policy of acquiring Palestine, populating it with Jews and driving the Arabs out. Hamas has the right to continue resistance until that policy changes.
Peace is the last thing Hamas terrorists and gangsters want. Peace means the game is up. Peace means they?ve disappointed their god. Peace means no more excuses. They couldn?t bear peace for six months. This is a war to the bitter end. And we?re afraid to admit what it?s about. It?s not about American sins or Israeli intransigence. It?s about a sickness in the soul of a civilization ? of Middle-Eastern Islam ? that can only be cured from within. More about Hamas and Islam : http://xrl.us/beczox
Soon there is only Egypt to back the Tunisian crowd, in the West Bank. The damage of the Goldstone debacle is being felt. The Sunni countries are kissing and making up with the Shiites and leaving Egypt at the wayside. With the Saudi's blessing. Keeping the door to Gaza shut for the second winter, is proving to be costly. Nobody refers to Mahmoud Abbas as Abu Mazen anymore and he is being challenged by his own now. Salaam Fayad may be the future and his 2 year plan is being supported widely even beyond the borders. The Arab Peace Initiative still there, but not for long and the "petro dollar" questioned. Maybe even the young US President is having second thoughts about Abbas. Maybe the threat of elections, if the Hamas doesn't sign onto the Egyption surrender demand, is the trap he is setting for Abbas.Now Syria-Turkey-Iraq-The Gulf States-Iran is knocking on the Jordanian door. King Abdullah may be blind, but he isn't deaf. 'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem'