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Palestinians deem reconciliation as first priority: President

19 March 2012 18:36 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The internal reconciliation is Palestinian people’ first priority, President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday in a letter addressed to Qatari Prince Sheikh Hammad Ben Khalifa al-Than, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat, who is currently in Qatar, told Xinhua on phone that he handed the letter to the Qatari Prince, and stressed that Abbas is keen to finalize the reconciliation.

Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal agreed to form a transitional unity government chaired by Abbas and tasked with organizing the general elections.

However, the agreement, signed in Doha in February, has not been implemented so far and leaders of Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah party blame each other for the postponement.

Azzam el-Ahmed, the Fatah delegation chief to the dialogue with Hamas told Xinhua in an interview that the Islamic movement had asked for delaying the establishment of the government.

"Hamas asked President Abbas in Cairo last month to postpone the formation of the transitional government for two weeks," said el-Ahmed. "So far, Hamas has not given any word at the end of the two weeks."

He also accused Hamas for not allowing the Central Elections Commission (CEC) in Gaza to work properly. "It is impossible to form a government and prepare for elections when Hamas does not allow the CEC to work in Gaza."