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Abbas, Mashaal: We agreed to work as partners
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By Ma'an news
Ma'an News Agency
Saturday, Nov 26, 2011
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Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal walks next to President Mahmoud Abbas after
their meeting in Cairo on Nov. 24, 2011. The leaders of Fatah and Hamas met
for the first time in six months on Thursday and hailed progress toward ending
Palestinian divisions that has led to separate governments in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip. (REUTERS/Mohamed Al Hams/Handout) |
CAIRO
(Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal on
Thursday said they had resolved all their differences, after a meeting
in Cairo to implement a unity agreement.
"We want to assure our people and the Arab and Islamic world that we
have turned a major new and real page in partnership on everything do to
with the Palestinian nation," Mashaal said.
"There are no more differences between us now," added Abbas, who heads the Fatah movement.
The president said the talks had been comprehensive, covering "all
details about reconciliation," according to the Palestinian Authority
news agency Wafa.
"You will see all of this in the coming days and weeks," Abbas said.
Hamas politburo head Mashaal said: "Everyone should be confident and wait for developments on the ground, and not just words.
"The atmosphere is positive and we hope our people and all the factions will help us to achieve the best interest of our cause."
The two leaders of Palestine's top political factions were meeting for
the first time since they signed a reconciliation deal in the Egyptian
capital in May.
The agreement set out a path to a unity government of technocrats, to
prepare for national elections within a year, but implementation had
stalled in the intervening six months. The deal sought to end the
rivalry that split Palestinians into separate administrations in 2007,
with Hamas ruling the besieged Gaza Strip, and Fatah dominating the
government in the West Bank.
Hamas and Fatah will meet again in Cairo on Dec. 15, officials said.
During that meeting, Abbas and Mashaal are expected to finally set a
date for holding elections.
Both leaders said Thursday's meeting was positive.
"We want very much to work as partners and we have a joint responsibility toward our people and cause," Abbas said.
Mashaal said the meeting had "opened a new page of a high level of
understanding, concern for partnership and seriousness in implementing
not only the terms of the reconciliation agreement, but all that has to
do with organizing the Palestinian home and dealing with the present and
future stages."
Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad and Hamas delegate Izzat al-Rishq said in a
joint conference after the meeting that the leaders agreed to complete
terms of the agreement related to freeing political detainees, creating a
positive environment for elections, and promoting popular resistance
against Israeli occupation and settlements.
Hamas leader Fawzi Barhoum told the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera that
the meeting had launched a new phase in the history of the Palestinian
cause and people.
Source: Ma'an News Agency
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