Masri: Hamas studies deferring the signing of an agreement with Fatah in October

Masri: Hamas studies deferring the signing of an agreement with Fatah in October

[ 08/10/2009 - 09:08 AM ]


GAZA, (PIC)-- Mushir Al-Masri, the secretary-general of Hamas parliamentary bloc, stated Wednesday that his Movement mulls over delaying the signing of a reconciliation agreement with Fatah faction on 26 of October in Cairo.

Masri said in a press statement to Safa news agency that Hamas leaders at home and abroad are in the process of discussing the possibility of deferring the national reconciliation as a reaction to the Palestinian Authority’s position toward Goldstone’s report.

He noted that Hamas cannot simply ignore the popular anger towards Mahmoud Abbas, adding that the scandal Abbas caused is of high caliber and a national crime against the Palestinian people.

In a related context, the left-wing Palestinian factions stated during a meeting held on Wednesday in Gaza that the PA decision to withdraw support for Goldstone’s report provided regional and international parties with a justification to be more inactive towards Israel’s crimes which would lead Israeli leaders to escape from justice.

They stressed that delaying the voting on Goldstone’s report without consulting with national forces showed that the PA is still persistent in making unilateral decisions.

For its part, the Israeli Maariv newspaper reported that US special envoy George Mitchell asked Israel to reward Abbas for his withdrawal of support for Goldstone’s report through showing flexibility in peace negotiations and taking steps to strengthen his position in the Palestinian street.

“Despite the difficulties that have arisen in the aftermath of Jerusalem events and Goldstone’s report, Israel estimates that it is possible to overcome the obstacles and declare the renewal of the negotiations soon, probably at the end of Mitchell’s visit", the newspaper underscored.