Gaza – Dr. Ismail Redwan a spokesman for the Hamas Movement on Monday categorically denied media reports that the Hamas-Fatah negotiations on the formation of a national unity government had collapsed; the same denial was voiced by MP Dr. Mustafa Al-Barghouthi who is leading the mediation between the two factions.
Redwan in a press release said that difficulties existed but did not reach the extent of collapsing the talks. “We are still in control of the talks and we have covered major strides” he elaborated.
Both parties achieved big progress agreed on the government’s program based on the national concord document and approved the quota for each faction in the new government he said adding that Hamas would name the new premier.
Redwan refused to explain the travel of PA chief Mahmoud Abbas to Jordan en route to Saudi Arabia as an indicator of the failure of the dialogue adding that it was the right of the president to travel and visit any country he wishes.
For his part Barghouthi blatantly denied the collapse of the talks expressing surprise and dismay at publishing such news before properly verifying them.
He charged that publication of those reports only harmed the Palestinian people and their national unity which he described as “unacceptable”.
The MP who heads his party (independent Palestine) parliamentary bloc said that progress was made in securing guarantees for lifting the siege as soon as the government was formed and stressed that a positive spirit and optimism were ruling supreme in the ongoing talks.
