Dismissed Palestinian premier demands Arab states to help lift the siege of Gaza

Saturday November 24, 2007 15:38 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, whose party was outlawed by President Mahmoud Abbas in June, demanded the Arab leaders to take the initiative and help lift the Israeli siege, being imposed on Gaza over the past five months.

Dismissed Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya

Haniyeh's statement was delivered on his behalf by the Hamas's cabinet chairman, Mohammad al-Madhoun, during a celebration ceremony at the Islamic University of Gaza, which is linked to Hamas.

In the ceremony, marking the inauguration of 'al-Aqsa agony week', aL-Madhoun believed that those, heading for the Annapolis peace conference, slated in November27, are going without any authorization or reference bodies.

Haniya's speech referred to Palestinian president's plan to attend a Washington-sponsored peace summit, meant to revive a seven-year-long stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Haniya also called for the return of dialogue between Hamas and Fatah, on basis of reinitiating the Palestinian national agenda practically not rhetorically.

The dismissed Palestinian leader maintained "no one can give up an inch of the Palestinian lands or concede the Palestinian inalienable rights".

Meanwhile, speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Ahmad Bahar of Hamas, demanded the Palestinian negotiations team not to take part in the upcoming conference, saying "we are confident that the negotiators won't comply with such a demand, yet we are just appealing for the sake of history".

Bahar wondered angrily, in reference to Arab states' acceptance of U.S invitations to the summit, "I really wonder how come you comply with Washington's invitations, while you never respond to calls by Gaza's patients, who die on daily basis, due to the Israeli siege".

Palestinian, Israeli, Arab and international representatives, are prepared to attend a Washington-sponsored conference on Middle East peace, the U.S considers a 'launching pad' for a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Hamas, which took over Gaza amidst fighting with Abbas-loyal security forces, has not been invited to the conference, despite Hamas's landslide victory in last January's parliamentary elections.

Since taking power, Hamas has been rejecting recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence and acceptance of past signed agreements. Instead, it has offered a long-term truce with the Israeli state, which Israel has turned down.

gaza strip | palestinian politics | news report rami at imemc dot org