Hamas spokesperson criticizes Fayad for sealing off charitable societies

Tuesday August 28, 2007 18:22 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Hamas spokesperson, Fawzi Barhoum, criticized the appointed Palestinian Prime Minister in Ramallah, Salam Fayad, for ordering closure of some one hundred local charitable societies across Gaza and the West Bank under the pretext of fraud.

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Barhoum was quoted as saying “ Fayyad’s decision is intended at succumbing the Palestinian people to the pressures intended at isolating Hamas”.

A press release issued by the Hamas’s spokesman in Gaza maintained that the closure is a part of the warfare, Abbas is waging against the leaders, supporters and institutions of Hamas, including those aiding families of the Intifada victims and orphans.

He accused President Mahmoud Abbas of yielding to what he termed ‘Israeli and American dictations’ for the sake of starving the Palestinian people, leading eventually to accepting unsustainable solutions for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the framework of the likely fall’s peace conference.

Barhoum said “the institutions, which are expected to be closed, are charitable ones that serve all categories of the Palestinian people, irrespective to their social and political affiliations, in a time the decision is intended at serving merely factional interests”

Barhoum held the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas totally responsibility for the deprivation of thousands of target Palestinian families of their right to basic services.

The Islamist group, which took over Gaza in June, is responsible for several benevolent societies across Gaza and the West Bank, including the Al-Salah institution, one of the major Hamas’s social organizations.

President Abbas outlawed Hamas right after the movement’s seizure of Gaza in mid June and formed an emergency government in the West Bank city of Ramallah, headed by the moderate Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad.

Hams is currently going through an international boycott since it has come to power following January2006’s elections, provided that the group renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept past signed agreements with Israel.

gaza strip | miscellaneous | news report rami at imemc dot org