Islamic Jihad Leader Rejects Two-State Solution to Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict
News number: 9002260558 11:43 | 2011-05-16
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9002260558

TEHRAN (FNA)- Islamic Jihad Leader Khalid al-Batsh rejected the
West-sponsored plan for the formation of two governments in the occupied
Palestinian territories, and underlined that Palestinian groups are resolved
to continue resistance against Israel.

"Basically speaking, we did not raise the idea for the formation of a
Palestinian state in the occupied territories of 1967," Batsh told FNA on
Monday, adding, "The idea cannot be accepted and we believe that the entire
Palestine is Arab and Islamic land and belongs to the Palestinian nation."

He also reiterated that formation of two separate Palestinian and Israeli
states is a solution totally to the benefit of the Zionists, which does not
serve the interests of the Palestinians since 78% of the entire Palestinian
area will be confiscated by the occupying enemy.

The comments by the Palestinian leader came days after Thirteen Palestinian
groups including, Fatah and Hamas, signed a landmark unity deal ending their
long-running division.

Prior to the agreement, the Islamic movement Hamas was at loggerheads with
Fatah, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, since Hamas won the
parliamentary elections in January of 2006. After winning the elections,
Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip ending months of bloody conflict with
Fatah allied security forces. Egypt and other Arab countries' attempts of
reaching a reconciliation deal between the two largest Palestinian factions
had earlier failed.

According to internal sources, the agreement will include formation of a
caretaker government until elections take place in both the West Bank and
Gaza.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi welcomed the Palestinian
reconciliation agreement, and called it a positive move towards
materializing Palestinian people's goals and rights.