Hamas: Fatah responsible for stalling reconciliation
Published yesterday (updated) 02/02/2012 23:49
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=457436

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas said Thursday that Fatah was responsible for the
deadlock in progress toward reconciliation, as it has avoided holding a
meeting on a framework for the leadership.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas was committed to holding the
meeting of the PLO interim leadership, but Fatah is avoiding the meeting,
although he did not specify how.

Abu Zuhri called Fatah's intransigence "evidence they are not serious" about
unity.

It was the latest accusation between the two sides, with both Fatah and
Hamas officials trading claims of intransigence.

In an interview Wednesday, Fatah leader Jamal Muheisin said preparations for
an Arab League meeting and internal discussions have delayed talks between
President Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal.

Muheisin criticized Hamas' declaration that reconciliation efforts were
postponed, stating that the Quartet is putting pressure on the Palestinian
Authority to return to negotiations with Israel.

He urged Hamas to allow the elections committee to work freely in the Gaza
Strip.

The Palestinian priority would be to go back to the United Nations, the
Fatah official said, adding that there is no benefit to negotiating with
Israel.

Senior Hamas official Ismail Radwan responded by telling Ma'an that a new
government has not been announced yet because both parties were awaiting the
results of the Amman meetings.

Mashaal and Abbas were scheduled to meet on Feb. 2. A new date has not yet
been confirmed.

Radwan blamed Fatah for postponing the meeting and for not setting a new
date.

“We didn’t feel that Fatah is doing any progress or any efforts in this
case,” he added, stating that Hamas is dedicated to national unity.

Abbas said that the Palestinian leadership will discuss the recent
exploratory talks in Amman at a follow up Arab League committee meeting on
Feb. 4.

The reconciliation deal set out a path to elections within a year, and the
appointment of an interim government to unite both territories. But the
parties could not agree on a candidate to lead the unity government.

According to Palestinian electoral law, President Abbas must issue a decree
three months before elections are held.