Palestine-Palestinian factions close ranks against US-backed Mideast initiative

Palestinian factions on Thursday staged a rare show of unity to underline their rejection of the US-backed normalisation deal between Israel and the UAE.

“We cannot accept anyone speaking in our name. We have never allowed it, and we will not allow it, ever,” said president Mahmud Abbas at a meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah beamed live by videoconference to a parallel meeting held at the Palestinian embassy in Beirut.

“We will never accept the United States as the sole mediator for negotiations (with Israel), and we will not accept its plan” for a peace settlement, said Abbas, calling for Palestinian “unity” in the face of Washington’s strategy.

The meeting was the first since 2013 bringing together Abbas, head of the mainstream Fatah party and West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, and Islamist Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh — albeit virtually, rather than in the same room.

Haniyeh, whose rival movement controls the Gaza Strip, also called for a united front, via videoconference from Beirut.

“We must restore our national unity, put an end to division and establish a unified Palestinian position… to confront projects directed against our people,” said the Hamas chief.

Source:(AFP)