Palestinians Stress National Unity, Differ on Abbas's Plan

Wrapping up a two-day of inter-Palestinian dialogue that included almost all Palestinian factions of the political spectrum, the factions took an unswerving stand on recent armed clashes between Hamas and Fatah, saying it is strictly forbidden for the Palestinian people to take up arms against one another, according to the meeting's final statement.

The statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net Saturday, May27 , said all Palestinians should nip in the bud any "malicious attempt" to pit them against one another.

"Our differences should make us stronger not vice versa," it read, adding that dialogue was the one and only way to reach a halfway house.

The participants called for an immediate stop to the current state of lawlessness through effective and organized security apparatuses.

The Hamas-led Palestinian government ordered its new security force off Gaza's streets on Friday after clashes with President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement.

Hamas said the removal of its force from the streets was meant to ease tensions.

Government officials have said they will not disband the new force, despite calls to do so from Abbas, but integrate it into regular police units.

Several dozen members of the force were redeployed, however, on Saturday on several streets.

Youssef Al-Zahar, a force commander, said the group had staged a "limited deployment" after Palestinian citizens complained to them about having removed the troops.

Activating PLO

The factions also stressed the need for "activating" the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the main representative body of the Palestinian people.

The participants also suggested that President Mahmoud Abbas set up a permanent committee for inter-Palestinian dialogue, which groups representatives from all factions along with Members of Parliament.

The summiteers also blasted the ongoing aid cutoff by the West as a "collective punishment" for the Palestinians and rejected plans by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to unilaterally demarcate the permanent borders of Israel.

Both the United States and the European Union, which is the main donor to the Palestinians with 500 million euros a year, have suspended aid to the Palestinian Authority leaving it on the verge of bankruptcy after Hamas assumed power in March.

Israel has further stopped transferring customs duties worth around $50 million a month and previously collected for the Palestinian Authority.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned on Friday, May5 , that a humanitarian crisis was now "on our doorstep" in the Gaza Strip due to the aid freeze.

Abbas's Plan

Meanwhile, the factions delayed talks on a plan put forward by Abbas, calling for a Palestinian state alongside Israel as Hamas rejected a10 -day deadline set by the Palestinian leader to back the initiative.

Talks on the plan, drafted by Palestinian leaders jailed in Israel, had been expected to begin on Saturday, but Hamas spokesman Sami Abu-Zuhri said the leaders were still discussing a venue, Reuters reported.

He said the meeting had not begun because "formation of the (negotiating) committee has not been finalized yet".

"Some factions want the dialogue to be held in Gaza because their representatives are there," Abu-Zuhri added.

The plan implicitly recognizes Israel. Hamas reiterated that Israel would only get peace if it withdrew from all occupied Palestinian territories.

Abu-Zuhri said Hamas disagreed with a deadline set this week by Abbas for Hamas to accept the plan or face a national referendum in 40 days.

"There is no need for the10 -day idea. As long as we are talking about dialogue, there shouldn't be any dates set," Abu-Zuhri said.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior official close to Abbas and former Information Minister, said the Palestinian president would invite Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and other top officials to discuss the plan on Sunday, May28 .

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