Ahmed Bahar
(photo: PIC)" width="280" height="223" /> Dr. Ahmed Bahar (photo: PIC)Gaza, 29 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/19 February 2015 (MINA) – The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Deputy Speaker Dr. Ahmed Bahar said that Palestinian factions realize that Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas is the main obstacle to national reconciliation.
Bahar pointed out that election is the sole solution to end this internal crisis, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Friday.
Abbas is still refusing to call for the meeting of the PLO provisional leadership as it was agreed upon in 2005, he said.
Bahar also called on the unity government to exercise its duties and role and to abide by what has been agreed upon.
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Commenting on the resumption of PLC sessions, he underlined that the PLC was supposed to reconvene a month after a unity government is formed according to the reconciliation agreement signed in Gaza. However, it was marginalized along with the meeting of the PLO provisional leadership.
“The council’s sessions have been suspended in order to achieve reconciliation and the signing of the Shati Agreement.”
Bahar said the Palestinian unity government was supposed to gain the PLC’s confidence; however, Abbas did not fulfill his obligations to allow the PLC to meet, therefore we decided to resume the council’s sessions.
There is a political decision (on the part of Abbas) to refuse national partnership and take control over the PLO, he said.
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Replying on whether the resumption of the PLC sessions would foil reconciliation path, Bahar said that the PLC re-convention is a constitutional entitlement given by law.
The people gave us their confidence and we bore this trust despite all the challenges and obstacles mainly the Israeli arrest of 45 Palestinian MPs headed by the PLC Speaker Dr. Aziz Dweik since 2006, he continued.
The PLC Deputy Speaker confirmed that election is the only solution for this crisis. “It should be held within a healthy political atmosphere away from political arrests to ensure a free, fair, and transparent election.”
Bahar renewed the PLC adherence to the reconciliation agreement, calling on the Palestinian unity government to bear its responsibilities and to exercise its duties including paying the employees’ salaries, lifting Gaza siege, and start reconstruction of the Strip.
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He also stressed the need to reinforce the national unity between the Palestinian people in Gaza, West Bank, occupied Jerusalem, and in 48 Palestine.
“We have to establish a national unity based on resistance and national constants”, he underlined.
He pointed out that Abbas is still imprisoned by Oslo accords. “Despite spending 20 years in negotiations with Israel, settlement construction has increased, Judaization schemes have escalated, and construction of the separation wall establishment has continued.”
He warned that the continued siege and the deteriorating living conditions in Gaza Strip would certainly lead to a new war.
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“We are ready to defend our people by all possible means”, he stressed.
On the other hand, the PLC top official expressed hope that Saudi Arabia’s new monarch Salman bin Abdulaziz would activate and support the Palestinian cause, stressing the importance of his country’s economic role in the Arab world.
Speaking on Hamas’s relations with Iran, Bahar said that the group did not and will never intervene in any country’s internal issues.
“We appreciate all the countries’ support for our people and cause”, he added, noting that the resistance weapon is only directed against the occupation.
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Regarding the Egyptian decision to declare the armed wing of Hamas Movement as a banned terrorist group, Bahar said that such decision would only serve the occupation.
The Egyptian court’s decision was a political decision par excellence, he underlined, calling on Egyptian authorities to reconsider its decision.
PLC Deputy Speaker Ahmed Bahar has announced late January the resumption of the council’s sessions after being suspended for more than seven months.(T/P008/R03)
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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
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