Damascus: Syria-based Palestinian groups
including the Islamist Hamas said on today they will not sign
a reconciliation deal with rival Fatah unless the text
includes a clause on the right to resist Israeli occupation.
Fatah has already said it backs the Egypt-mediated
Palestinian unity agreement and was due today to present a
signed copy of the accord to Egyptian leaders.
A spokesman for the Damascus-based Palestinian bloc said,
however, that they were not happy with the agreement, saying
it "lacks a political vision concerning the conflict (with
Israel) and the aggression against our people."
"The Palestinian factions will not sign the accord...
unless the text includes the principles and the rights of
Palestinians, especially that of resisting the Zionist
occupation," said the spokesman, Khaled Abdel Majid.
"We urge all Palestinian groups and national
personalities to act rapidly and take those measures necessary
to preserve the Palestinian cause from dangers that threaten
it, and to insist on the historic rights of our people."
He said the deal proposed by Egypt should also include
the question of "Jerusalem and the dangers of `judaisation`
and permanent aggression that threaten this holy city," as
well as "the right of return for Palestinian refugees to their
homes."
Cairo has been struggling for months to get Fatah and
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, to ink a national unity
deal, but the two main Palestinian factions have repeatedly
postponed the signing.
Bureau Report
