Hamas Apologizes to Abbas for Insults
Kifah Ziboun and Asharq Al-Awsat 20 April 2017
http://english.aawsat.com/kifah-ziboun-and-asharq-awsat/news-middle-east/hamas-apologizes-abbas-insults

Ramallah, Gaza- A few days following a fierce attack on Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas, the Hamas Movement apologized for the unacceptable
insults launched by some of its members during marches staged in the Gaza
Strip.

“I extremely apologize for such an individual behavior, Mr. President,”
Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said, describing the conduct of some of the
movement’s supporters as “crossing the line of eloquence, principles and
ethics.”

Barhoum’s regret came only a few hours after another Hamas member apologized
for the insults made against Abbas.

Ahmad Youssef, adviser to the deputy chairman of Hamas’ political bureau,
said that what happened requires an apology.

“I apologize on behalf of myself, and on behalf of what I represent in this
movement, for the unethical mistake, which is unjustified,” he said.

Supporters of the Hamas Movement in Gaza had shot at pictures of Abbas and
had used them in an inappropriate manner that insulted the president.

The offenses took place as Hamas leaders were meeting with Fatah officials
to reach an agreement on ending the inter-Palestinian division in Gaza,
after Abbas threatened to take unprecedented measures if the movement does
not hand over the territory’s management to the consensus government.

Informed Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that a
rapprochement meeting was held between officials from the two sides in the
Gaza Strip late on Tuesday. But the talks did not lead to any results.

Instead, the two parties exchanged a list of demands for the purpose of
having a successful dialogue in the future to end the crisis in the Gaza
Strip.

The sources said that the meeting lasted for more than two hours but failed
to produce any clear results. But, participants agreed to meet again with a
hope to reach new agreements before a delegation from the Fatah central
committee – carrying an initiative to end the division – arrives in Gaza.