Archive for Palestinian factions

Foreign minister criticizes quartet’s role in peace process

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December 10th, 2012

Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr criticized the Quartet on the Middle East’s role in the regional peace process, calling it “a total paralysis” and reiterating Egypt’s condemnation of Israeli settlement activities as a blow to the two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

A ministry statement Monday quoted Amr’s remarks, which he made during a ministerial meeting Sunday by the Arab Peace Initiative follow-up committee in Doha.

Amr expressed Egypt’s congratulations to Palestinians on the United Nations’ historic decision to grant Palestinians observer status. He added that the resolution requires joint Arab support for the Palestinian state and the provision of a financial security network that would counter any economic and financial fallout from the UN decision.

The foreign minister said the international community’s submissiveness to Israeli settlement policy would undermine the two-state solution. Amr leveled scathing criticism of the world’s policies on regional issues, and of the Quartet, whose member entities are the United Nations, the European Union, the US and Russia.

Amr stressed the need for brainstorming creative ways to push the international community to get actively engaged in solving the Palestinian issue. He said the eventual goal is to give Palestinians their legitimate rights, foremost among them being the establishment of an independent state on the June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Amr stressed the importance of achieving reconciliation between Palestinian factions, and reiterated Egypt’s interest in that goal.

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Text of Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement

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November 21st, 2012

CAIRO — Israel and Hamas agreed Wednesday to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire accord to end a week of violence in and around the Gaza Strip following days of marathon talks.

Here is the text of the ceasefire agreement which is set to take effect at 1900 GMT:

"Israel shall stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip land ,sea and air, including incursions and targeting of individuals.

"All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel, including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border.

"Opening the crossings and facilitating the movement of people and transfer of goods and refraining from restricting residents' free movements and targeting residents in border areas. Procedures of implementation shall be dealt with after 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire.

"Other matters as may be requested shall be addressed.

"Implementation mechanism:

"Setting up the zero hour understanding to enter into effect.

"Egypt shall receive assurances from each party that the party commits to what was agreed upon.

"Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would breach this understanding. In case of any observations, Egypt as a sponsor of this understanding, shall be informed to follow up."

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Al-Azhar grand sheikh pledges to support Palestinian reconciliation

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November 21st, 2012

Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb has renewed his call for rival Palestinian factions to achieve reconciliation in order to face Israel as a united front.

During a meeting on Wednesday with Ramadan Shallah, secretary general of the Islamic Jihad, and his deputy Zeyad al-Nakhary, Tayyeb expressed Al-Azhar’s readiness to take part in supporting the reconciliation effort.

Shallah updated Tayyeb on the circumstances in Gaza and commended Egypt and Al-Azhar’s support for Gazans and the whole Palestinian people.

In May 2011, Palestinian factions signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo during an official celebration attended by Arab and Islamic countries’ representatives. The agreement aimed to end divisions that had lasted for almost four years.

The agreement’s main terms stipulated forming a government of independent figures who would prepare for elections and deal with local issues that resulted from the former division.

Despite signing the agreement a year ago, rival factions have not achieved reconciliation.

The London-based Al-Quds al-Araby newspaper quoted Palestinian sources on Monday as saying that joint Egyptian-Turkish-Qatari efforts are being exerted to reunite rival Palestinian factions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, according to sources, agreed on Friday with Hamas Leader Khaled Meshaal on calling a meeting of Palestinian leaders to work toward ending division.

Edited translation from MENA

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Abbas and Meshaal arrive in Cairo

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July 18th, 2012

The head of Hamas’ politburo, Khaled Meshaal, arrived to Cairo on Wednesday to lead a delegation coming from Morocco for a two-day visit.

On Tuesday evening, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo coming from Rome.  He was received by Electricity Minister Hassan Younis and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Barakat al-Farra.

Abbas will offer his congratulations to President Mohamed Morsy for his election victory. They will also tackle recent developments related to the Palestinian cause in light of efforts made by Egypt to reconcile differences among the Palestinian factions.

No information was provided about whether Abbas and Meshaal will meet or not, although leaders from the two movements had earlier announced that Meshaal and Abbas would meet in Cairo to mull Palestinian reconciliation efforts.

By late June, Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of Fatah’s central committee, said Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal were waiting for Egypt to set the date for the meeting and for President-elect Mohamed Morsy to officially take office.

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Palestinian leaders to meet in Cairo next month over reconciliation

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June 27th, 2012

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with the head of the Hamas political bureau next month in Cairo to resume reconciliation efforts, a Fatah central committee member said Wednesday.

Azzam al-Ahmad said Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal are waiting for Egypt to set the date for the meeting and for President-elect Mohamed Morsy to officially take office.

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan told the movement's Gaza-based newspaper Palestine that preparations for the meeting are ongoing.

Hamdan said communications between the two factions have continued recently, and that Palestinian reconciliation has come under immense external pressures from the US and Israel.

He said he hopes the developments in Egypt will positively impact reconciliation, and that the country will clear obstacles and fend off external pressures to address unresolved issues.

Fatah and Hamas are expected to reach a consensus on the final list of ministers for the transitional government led by Abbas and to discuss a halt to arrests of Hamas activists in the West Bank.

“What we need is to urgently form a government to set the stage for elections in Palestinian territories. Then Palestinian factions should agree on an official date for elections,” Hamdan said.

Edited translation from MENA

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Hamas, Fatah in contact regarding govt formation

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June 26th, 2012

Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas are making contacts to arrange for a meeting that would discuss efforts to form a coalition government, news reports said Tuesday.

The London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat quoted an informed Palestinian source as saying that the communications are seeking to settle recent disagreements that surfaced when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah said the new government formation should coincide with setting a date for presidential and legislative elections.

Fatah and Hamas are seeking to bridge a five-year rift created in 2006 after Hamas won legislative elections to the dismay of Fatah.

The same sources told the paper that Hamas vehemently objects to arranging for the polls without an environment that allows it to equally compete in the polls. They explained that while Abbas persists in holding the elections six months after the new government is declared, Hamas demanded that Fatah cease its security crackdown on its cadres in the West Bank, as well as obtaining international assurances that Israel stops detaining its leadership.

Hamas also demanded that Palestinians in eastern Jerusalem be allowed to nominate and vote in the elections, according to the sources.

The sources added that settling the disagreement between both factions would be contingent on the role to be played by Egypt under its newly-elected president, Mohamed Morsy.

The sources told Asharq al-Awsat that the Egyptian sponsorship of the Palestinian reconciliation should be transferred from the intelligence services to the government in Cairo, so as to make it easier to press for eliminating differences.

The sources ruled out that Morsy's electoral win would strengthen Hamas's position in the reconciliation talks, stressing that the new Egyptian administration will be extremely keen on maintaining neutrality between both parties.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Fatah, Hamas in second Cairo reconciliation talks

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May 29th, 2012

Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas met in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss how to implement the reconciliation agreement signed last May.

The meeting came after their first meeting Monday, when both factions made sure that the Palestinian Authority’s Central Election Commission had kicked off its activities in Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian source told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the Monday meeting, chaired by Fatah Central Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad and Hamas political bureau chairman Moussa Abu Marzouq, assessed the electoral commission’s progress in Gaza without shifting to the formation of the anticipated coalition government.

According to the source, both movements have started to earnestly discuss their action plan and the names tipped for the new government, which would be later submitted to Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, as well as Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal.

“Both factions have a chance to wrap up the new government within days after ending their talks, as per the agreement signed in Cairo,” the source noted.

The reconciliation agreement stipulates that both groups embark on negotiations for government formation once the electoral commission updates Gaza’s voter lists.

Edited translation from MENA

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Fatah says Cairo meetings with Hamas over reconciliation failed

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May 7th, 2012

The recent meetings with Hamas held in Cairo accomplished nothing toward Palestinian reconciliation, Fatah central committee member Azzam al-Ahmed said Monday.

Egyptian officials and Hamas leaders held several meetings to consider ways to achieve reconciliation between Palestinian factions, Ahmed told the official Palestinian radio. Hamas has not yet responded.

"We informed Hamas that achieving the reconciliation doesn't require new negotiations or discussions since there is an agreement that should be accurately achieved," Ahmed said.

"Talking about new meetings and dialogues is a waste of time, misleading for the Palestinian public opinion and an attempt to reverse what has been agreed on," he added.

Ahmed highlighted his movement's demand of holding a central election committee in Gaza so President Mahmoud Abbas would start talks over formation of the consensus government. He said communications between the two movements are ongoing.

He also accused Hamas of not wanting to hold elections, and hoped the group would allow preparations for the elections soon in Gaza.

Abbas will announce a cabinet reshuffle very soon, Ahmed said.

Edited translation from DPA

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Nour Party delegation to visit Gaza to discuss ‘abducted Egyptian officers’

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April 21st, 2012

The head of Nour Party, Emad Eddin Abdel Ghaffour, arrived at the Rafah border crossing Saturday leading a delegation of Salafi leaders on their way to the Gaza Strip, security sources in North Sinai said.

Abdel Ghaffour will visit Gaza to discuss the alleged abduction of three Egyptian officers who disappeared after the breakout of Egypt's 25 January revolution. They are believed to have been kidnapped by Salafi-oriented Palestinian factions.

The delegation will be received by leaders from the Mujahideen Brigades, a Salafi Palestinian faction, and other Palestinian factions.

Palestinian sources said the three-day visit seeks to “bolster relations between Palestine and Egypt and break the siege which has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for five years.”

The delegation is also expected to visit martyrs' families and areas destroyed in Israeli raids on Gaza.

A delegation from the People’s Assembly’s Arab Affairs Committee, including members from the Salafi-led Nour Party, visited Gaza last month to express solidarity with Gaza residents.

Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Palestinian official: Recent talks a failure

by admin
February 26th, 2012

 

Recent talks between Palestinian political factions in Cairo were ruined by their disorganized agenda, the secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine,   has said.

The meetings’ failure was due to the 12 factions’ undisciplined approach to discussion, said Nayef Hawatmeh, leader of the front. The group is a member organization  of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Though they had initially agreed that the issue of the formation of the new government would be off the table, the groups ended up spending time debating conditions for its formation, Hawatmeh told the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper.

Hawatmeh said he was disappointed with the outcome of the summit.

Delegations representing the Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah movements, were in Cairo Saturday to resume negotiations on the reconciliation pact signed in May under Egyptian sponsorship.

The negotiations are meant to end the conflict that erupted in 2007 between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Fatah, which controls the West Bank.

News outlets reported conflicts inside Hamas after leader Khaled Meshaal agreed to participate in a new consensus government. The new government, which political parties agreed upon in Doha on 6 February, will be presided over by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Officials had hoped that the past days’ talks would yield a plan for its formation.

Hamas officials said the formation of the new government has been postponed due to the continuation of talks. Fatah movement laid responsibility for the fruitless talks on Hamas officials.

 

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