On the fourth anniversary of Arafat's death, Abbas: "We will remain steadfast"

Wednesday November 12, 2008 01:46 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, stated during his participation in a massive rally commemorating the late president Yasser Arafat that the Palestinian leadership would remain steadfast on all principles that Arafat defended and died defending. Abbas also held Hamas responsible for the failure of internal dialog.

Palestinian President - Mahmoud Abbas

Abbas stated that the Palestinians will continue their struggle for liberation and independence, and called for national unity among all Palestinians and their factions.

The president also called on the Hamas movement in Gaza “to end its coup” and resume internal dialog. He accused the Islamic movement of foiling the Yemeni Initiative for national unity and also accused the movement of foiling Egypt's efforts.

He also said that he would not succumb to Israeli and US pressure, adding that the Palestinians were determined to achieve their legitimate rights of liberation and independence.

On an internal level, Abbas stressed the importance of forming a unity government which would be in charge of preparing for legislative and presidential elections.

“We are calling for elections, anyone who has self confidence should resort to elections”, Abbas added, “We believe in democracy, if they [Hamas] refuse the elections then we should hold a public referendum”.

“But Hamas does not seek dialogue. Look at what they did in Gaza; they barred residents from commemorating Arafat”, he said.

He confirmed that the Palestinian leadership was committed to the path of Arafat, and his aspiration to establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and to achieve the internationally guaranteed Right of Return to Palestinian refugees.

Abbas also said that any peace deal should be subject to a public referendum. He added that Hamas submitted a proposal to the Swiss government, and that this proposal is a “betrayal since it delays the issue of land, Jerusalem and refugees”.

“we will not accept partial solutions”, Abbas stated, “our six fundamental and legitimate demands must be met”.

The six demands are Jerusalem, evacuation of settlements, borders, refugees, water and security.

He also said that the Palestinians wants a contiguous state and not a series of isolated cantons.

The Palestinian President also slammed the escalating attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against the Palestinians, especially the recent attack against Al Kurd family in Sheikh Jarrah, in east Jerusalem.

Furthermore, Abbas congratulated Barrack Obama for winning the US presidential elections, and added that this is the democratic choice of the American people.

Several Fateh leaders and leaders of different Palestinian factions, delivered speeches during the commemoration, saluted the late president Arafat and his history of struggle for the Palestinian cause.

Yahia Khalaf, head of the Higher National Committee said during the opening ceremony that the decision of Hamas to bar commemorating Arafat in Gaza “came as a shock”, and added that this decision came parallel to Hamas's decision to boycott the internal talks which were supposed to be held between the Palestinian factions in Cairo on November 9.

Khalaf welcomed the Egyptian efforts which aim at restoring the Palestinian unity and facilitating internal Palestinian dialog.

Arafat's nephew, Nasser Al Qidwa, head of the Yasser Arafat Foundation, expressed his rejection to Hamas' decision to bar the residents form holing public ceremonies to commemorate Arafat in the Gaza Strip.

Al Qidwa held Israel responsible for the death of Arafat and said that “when Israel was surrounding Arafat in his headquarters in Ramallah, Israeli leaders decided to remove him, and get rid of him”.

Arab member of Knesset, Dr. Ahmad Tibi, said that Arafat gave his life to the Palestinian cause and died without giving up any of the legitimate Palestinian rights.

“We need Arafat, especially at this time, in order to end the internal divisions and remove the gap between Gaza and the West Bank”, Dr. Tibi said, “Arafat always knew when to say yes and when to say no, he always acted to the best interests of the Palestinian people.

Qais Abu Laila, of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said during a speech representing the national factions, that Hamas is fully responsible for the failure of the internal dialog.

He added that Hamas claimed that it wants talks without preconditions, “but is appears that Hamas wants to impose its preconditions on any internal talks”.

Abu Laila also said that Hamas will always act against internal dialog as “the movement wants to maintain its control over the Gaza Strip”.

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