What happened to Palestinian "reconciliation"?

[P F Tinmore]

After the “reconciliation” agreement was signed between leaders of the Fatah and Hamas Palestinian factions in Cairo on 4 May, we were told that a “unity government” would be formed within days.

Yet more than three weeks later, there is little sign of it and the questions the agreement raised when it was first signed, stand unanswered.

It is to be noted that the Ramallah-based PA has never repudiated the policies that created and maintained the division after Fatah refused to accept Hamas’ 2006 election victory and worked with the Bush administration to overturn the result. No one behind these grave actions has ever been held to account. Overwhelming evidence indicates that these actions include:

Officials loyal to Abbas’ PA formed a secret committee with the US, Israel and Egypt’s deposed Mubarak regime to undermine the PA “national unity government” in 2007;

Palestinian Authority officials strenuously lobbied Israel against prisoner swap with Hamas that could have freed 1,000 Palestinians;

Ramallah Palestinian Authority officials constantly complained to Israel and the United States that the siege of Gaza wasn’t tight enough, and urged that more should be done to tighten it.

What happened to Palestinian "reconciliation"? | The Electronic Intifada

 

[P F Tinmore]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Hamas legislators in Ramallah have denounced statements by West Bank security services spokesman Adnan al-Dhamiri denying the detention of anyone on political or partisan background.

In a statement, they called the claim irresponsible and said that such statements would “spoil” the national reconciliation efforts.

The PLC members pointed out that the fresh statement by Dhamiri conflicted with a previous one affirming that security services under Fatah rule were in fact holding political prisoners and that they had yet to receive a presidential decree seeing to their release.

The statement emphasizes that the political prisoner issue should be tackled ahead of any other issues pertaining to the deal between Fatah and Hamas to form a unity government. They regarded that the issue erases doubts and restores confidence in the integrity of both signing parties and provides a positive atmosphere to complete the remaining issues pertaining to the deal.

Hamas: Dhamiri political prisoner denial could spoil unity efforts