Thursday 17 March 2011

Abbas sets conditions ahead of visit to Gaza

[ 16/03/2011 - 05:12 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- De facto president Mahmoud Abbas has set conditions before stepping foot in the Gaza Strip to discuss national unity with Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya.

Haneyya called upon Abbas on Tuesday to begin reconciliation talks at the venue of Abbas's choice in response to popular protests across the Gaza Strip and West Bank demanding rivals to restore unity.

Abbas had accepted the invitation, but now he has set a few of his own terms before heading out.

According to the Wafa news agency, Abbas will not go to Gaza for dialogue, but rather to meet with Ismail Haneyya to discuss details of forming a government consisting of national neutral figures.

He highlighted that the new government's task is to hold Arab- international-brokered elections for the presidency, the parliament and the Palestinian national council within six months.

Abbas announced he is geared to go to the Strip ”tomorrow” to put an end to the split, and called on Haneyya to make arrangements with national factions to receive him at Beit Hanoun crossing in the next few days.

”I call on Ismail Haneyya to make necessary arrangements for this visit in coordination and consultation with factions in the Strip, and I call on him to go with them to receive me at Beit Hanoun crossing in the next few days so we can turn the page of the black split.”

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