US ‘disappointed’ by Fatah-Hamas reconciliation
by alethoMEMO | April 24, 2014
Spokesperson of the US Department of State Jen Psaki said on Wednesday
that the Obama administration is "disappointed" by the reconciliation
pact between Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian factions.
Speaking
shortly after Israel cancelled its latest meeting with the Palestinians
in the effort to save the faltering peace talks, Psaki told reporters
that news of the political reconciliation was "disappointing in terms of
the content as well as the timing".
She
suggested that the pact could "certainly complicate" the peace process,
because: "It's hard to see how Israel can be expected to sit down and
negotiate with a group that denies its right to exist."
Hamas
refuses to normalise the occupation of Palestine by recognising the
Israeli government. The peace talks, which resumed last summer under US
auspices, stalled after Israel balked at releasing Palestinian prisoners
while continuing to expand illegal settlements in the occupied
territories.
Fatah and Hamas announced on Wednesday
afternoon that they have agreed on a reconciliation pact, including the
formation of a national unity government within five weeks.
The
reconciliation pact was revealed during a press conference held by
Hamas leader and Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh and
the head of Fatah's parliamentary bloc, Azzam Al-Ahmad. A numbers of
Palestinian faction leaders also attended the event.
According
to the press statement, the Palestinian Authority (PA) along with Fatah
leader and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are to start discussions
on the formation of a national unity government immediately, based on
the previous Doha and Cairo agreements.
The
statement also reiterated that elections for the legislative council,
PA presidency and the Palestinian National Council must be held
simultaneously and in coordination with other national factions. The
elections are to take place six months after the unity government is
formed.
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