Hamas Calls for International Support to Achieve Palestinian Reconciliation
The head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” Ismail Haniyeh, calls for international support for efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation and hold elections.
Hamas announced in a press release, a copy of which was received by the German News Agency (DPA), that Haniyeh had sent written messages to the United Nations and the leaders of Iran, Jordan, Switzerland and South Africa.
According to the statement: Haniyeh reviewed the movement’s efforts to achieve the unity of the Palestinian people and end the era of discord, and its agreement to hold elections at various levels for the Legislative Council, the Presidency and the Palestinian National Council on the basis of succession and interdependence.
The Hamas leader called on the leaders of different countries to “support and back these efforts, and to work for the success of these steps that would enhance the unity of the Palestinian people.”
A week ago, Hamas sent a written letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas regarding its agreement to hold legislative, presidential and other elections for the Palestine Liberation Organization, respectively.
In addition, the Fatah movement announced that Abbas will meet later today with the head of the Palestinian Central Election Commission, Hanna Nasser, to discuss issuing decrees for holding general elections.
The agreement on simultaneous or successive elections has been a recurring point of contention between Fatah and Hamas in their talks to end the internal Palestinian division that has continued since mid-2007.
No general Palestinian elections have taken place since the elections for the Legislative Council (Parliament) in early 2006, which Hamas won, while the last presidential elections were held before that, in which Abbas won.
