Ramallah: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas pledged yesterday to "speed up" efforts with Hamas to form a new caretaker government and to prepare for fresh elections.
In an address to the Palestinian leadership timed to mark seven years since the death of Yasser Arafat and the 23rd anniversary of the declaration of independence, Abbas vowed to push ahead with efforts to cement a landmark unity deal between Fatah and Hamas.
"I will discuss the Palestinian differences, the implementation of the unity deal, the future horizons and the path of the Palestinian question with Khalid Mesha'al, Hamas chief, on November 23 to achieve Palestinian unity," said Abbas. "It is our duty to meet Hamas leadership which represents a portion of the Palestinian people," he added. "We will exert all the possible efforts to reach unity with Hamas," he said.
Technocrats
Abbas said that a unity government comprising independent figures and technocrats will be set up to pave the way for the Palestinian presidential, parliamentary and national council elections.
The formation of a caretaker government, which would prepare for elections within a year, was a central aspect of a surprise reconciliation deal which was signed in May, but efforts to implement the deal have run aground due to a dispute over who would take on the role of premier
Abbas also said that Palestine will never give up its bid for UN membership.
"We will get UN membership sooner or later and despite all the hindrances and obstacles concerned countries put on our way," he said.
"If not today, it will be tomorrow and if not tomorrow, it will be the day after. We will never walk away from our rightful request and will knock the door of the UN Security Council many more times till we get our target fulfilled," he said.
Abbas said that the road ahead is so difficult especially after the peace partner has turned into a peace greedy rival who does not pay any attention to the future, but carefully cares for land confiscation.
"The Palestinian people therefore stand in need for more patience and steadfastness, especially after the international community failed to stand up for Israeli crimes," he said.
— With additional inputs from AFP
