Abu Marzoq: Al-Ahmed Arrives Gaza within Two Days to Start Consultations to Form the Government

Gaza, Sat, 3nd of May --- Press House-Palestine organized a meeting with Dr. Musa Abu Marzoq, member of the political bureau of Hamas, as a part of the organization's program "Face the Press", in the presence of a large number of journalists, media workers, intellectuals, and writers; to talk about the recent developments in the political scene  and to answer their questions.

Abu Marzoq revealed that Azzam Al-Ahmad, the responsible for the reconciliation file, will arrive to Gaza in a maximum of two days.
He clarified that Al-Ahmed visit comes in the context of consultations to form the national consensus government, and a complement to the consultations with the reconciliation delegation, who arrived the strip ten days ago, pointing out that consultations to form the government will take five weeks.

Dr. Musa said:"The president "Abbas" will issue a decree specifying the date for legislative elections, followed by another decree regarding holding of the legislative council, and the resumption of its meetings."

"Hamas is keen to not create obstacles in the face of forming the new government, and not to use veto against any minister; to accomplish the work and duties assigned to them," He added

Abu Marzoq expected that the council will fully start its work by the beginning of the next month, ensuring that the most important factors for the Palestinian unity are to form the three bodies: "the presidency, ministry, and legislative", saying:"If those bodies are united , we can say that the division ends forever."

About the political position from the transitional government, he said:"the government to come is a service-based, not a political one, and we'll go through in this direction."

While regarding Hamas position from the participation in the upcoming presidential elections, Dr. Musa said:"Hamas will get involved in the legislative, local and union election, while the presidency elections, the movement didn't reach a decision up to this moment," noting that Hamas will take its final decision in the coming days.

Abu Marzoq ensured that the upcoming elections will be fair and transparent, and will be monitored and supervised by local, Arab, and international committees.

He also mentioned that Abbas will soon issue a decision to call all the Palestinian parties to participate in the PLO committee.

"A meeting of the interim Palestinian framework leadership of the PLO will be held in Cairo to study three major files, the first is to follow-up reconciliation file, address the obstacles, and how to overcome them," He added

He also clarified that the second file will include discussion of the current political situation, while the last file is how to move forward in the formation and rebuilding of the new national council, hoping the next meeting to be more serious and sends a message to the Palestinians abroad that they're a united body.

Abu Marzoq admitted that the political division and reconciliation took a long time any lots of failing trials, and the only successful way was initiating dialogue with Fateh, independents, and all movements.

About the reasons that made Fateh and Hamas sign the reconciliation agreement, He said:"Internal and external factors had pushed the two movements to sign the agreement and go forward in this file."

Dr. Musa said:"The situation in the West Bank, from the citizens' bad living conditions, the continued violations by the Israeli occupation, predominance of the settlements, Judaization of Jerusalem, and the failure of settlement process, as well as the situation in the Gaza Strip, from straining the relationship with Egypt, intensification of the siege, and the increasing level of unemployment; all were stressful factors that pushed the two movements to sign the reconciliation agreement."

While regarding the security file, Abu Marzoq indicated that they agreed with the reconciliation delegation to delay this issue during the transitional period until new Palestinian elections is held.

He also emphasized that all the files resulted from division will be part of the new transitional government's mission, from the unity of institutions, government, and ministries, to dealing with the consequences of division with the local community to pave the way for elections.

He also stressed that the new government, headed by independent figures, will be a professional one that works towards Palestinian's demands away from political disputes.

With regard to community reconciliation file, Abu Marzoq clarified that it will be one of the major achievements of the new government; as it will pave the way to hold elections; because it will be working on the resolution of tension between the Palestinian families, and solve the issues of Palestinians who left Gaza during division.

He said:"There will be a national endowment to collect subsidies that will be distributed fairly between all parties; to settle the community reconciliation file," adding:"regarding Hamas relations with outside, all the Arab region countries are changing and rebuilding their relationships and policies with all countries."

Dr. Musa also stressed the necessity of Arab countries to recover from their internal crises; as the Palestinian cause is negatively affected by their current situation, ensuring that Hamas' relationship with the Arab countries is based on those countries' support to the Palestinian cause and resistance.

As for Hamas position from the changes occurring in Egypt, Abu Marzoq ensured that they will not intervene in the Egyptian internal affairs, respecting any Egyptian decision regarding his movement and denying what was said about Hamas intervention in the Egyptian affairs.

On the other hand, Dr. Musa ensured that his movement will not recognize the state of Israel; who stole the land and expelled its people.

He also renewed Hamas rejection to the Quartet's conditions, saying:"We refuse the conditions; because they derogate the Palestinian people constant rights."

About the relationship with Iran, Abu Marzoq stressed that the relationship with the Islamic Republic is based on the support of the resistance and rejection of the Israeli project; emphasizing that Hamas seeks to strengthen the relationship with them and all other countries.