Hamas, Islamic Jihad call for formation of Palestinian national unity government

Palestinian resistance movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad have demanded the quick formation of a new national unity government, stressing the need for further cooperation between the two groups in the face of challenges facing the Palestinian nation.

The two movements, in a joint statement released following a lengthy meeting between their representatives in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo on Tuesday, emphasized that a national unity government must be established in a bid to hold new parliamentary elections in Palestinian territories, and secure Palestinian unity.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on January 30 that the Palestinian legislative polls will be held in East Jerusalem al-Quds, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to enable the Palestinian citizens to elect their representatives through ballots.

“The Palestinian leadership is keen to achieve the national Palestinian unity by implementing what had been agreed upon in Cairo in 2017,” Abbas said, adding that “the Palestinian leadership is committed to its implementation.”

Last December, Abbas announced that the Palestinian Constitutional Court had decided to dissolve the Palestinian parliament, better known as the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

The court had also called for holding new parliamentary election in the Palestinian territories after six months of dissolving the parliament.

PressTV-Palestinian prime minister, government resign

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah has tendered his resignation and that of his unity government.

Late last month, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah officially submitted his resignation and that of his unity government to Abbas, casting doubt on the prospects of reconciliation efforts with Hamas.

Abbas had been facing pressure from his ruling Fatah movement over the past few weeks to remove Hamdallah from power, and establish a new government comprised of representatives from PLO factions in addition to independent figures.

Hamdallah headed the Palestinian National Consensus Government, which was formed after Fatah and Hamas reached an agreement in 2014.

Fatah leaders said there was no point in keeping the government in power in the wake of the continued crisis between their faction and Hamas.

PressTV-‘Hamas won’t be part of any puppet Palestinian govt.’

The deputy head of the Hamas political bureau says his movement will not be part of any next puppet Palestinian government.

They also argue that since their faction is the largest group in the PLO, it should have a strong presence in any government.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad also stressed the need for closer interactions in various fields in order to defend “the Palestinian nation, the resistance front and its firm principles.”

“Our delegates praised Palestinian people for their spirited resistance, particularly the armed struggle against the Occupation (Israeli regime),” they stated.

The two resistance movements then called for an immediate end to divisions among Palestinian political factions to thwart US President Donald Trump’s so-called “deal of the century.”

PressTV-Palestinians angry as US plans to unveil 'deal of century'

Leading Palestinian groups have pledged to reject the Trump administration’s “deal of the century” after reports that the US is soon to publish the plan.

The deal, a back channel plan to allegedly reach a peace settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, was proposed by the US administration in September 2018.

Although the plan has not been released, leaks signal it will consist of the same tried and failed ideas. All Palestinian groups have already rejected Trump’s plan.

While little is known about the controversial deal, leaks have suggested that it regards East Jerusalem al-Quds as Israeli territory, whereas Palestinians view the eastern sector of the occupied city as the capital of their future state.

Palestinians also believe that the US-drafted plan calls for keeping borders and security under Israeli control, while it keeps Israeli settlements’ final borders to be discussed in later negotiations.

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