Fatah official warns against repercussions of Palestinian division

Azzam al-Ahmad says Hamas and Fatah have only signed one agreement Member of Fatah’s Central Committee Azzam al-Ahmad has warned that Palestinian division threatens to impact on the political, social and economic position of Palestine. Speaking during a meeting with members of the National Authority of the Retired Military personnel on Thursday, Ahmad said: "We have signed only one agreement. The rumours circulating about signing of new agreements are out there to frustrate the Palestinian people."
Ahmad explained the agreement signed between Fatah and Hamas, "the Palestinian factions had agreed during the recent meetings in Cairo to conduct election and form a government. Hamas’ political office agreed that President Abbas would issue two decrees in this regard. We also agreed that the military service law and the security authorities’ law would help resolve the current difference related to the formation of the security authorities."
The Fatah official said he was confident that international powers would deal with the new Palestinian government as a fact on the ground, if the Palestinian factions managed to end their current division. He predicted that the Palestinian president would issue the two decrees in early April.
Ahmad disclosed that Hamas had approved the idea of the popular resistance after talks between President Abbas and Head of Hamas’ Political Office Khaled Meshaal. He stressed the importance of ending the current Palestinian division to help build on the recent UN decision to accept Palestine as observer member.
Ahmad praised the national unity among Palestinians during last November's Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, and claimed that Fatah was at the forefront of efforts to defend the Palestinian cause. He called on Hamas to provide "serious and practical" solutions for future which would bring an end to the current division between the two groups.
On the diplomatic front, the Fatah official credited President Abbas for his stance towards international powers, adding, “The US and Europe must pressure Israel, if they want to achieve notable progress in the peace process."
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Office Moussa Abu Marzouk issued a press statement on Thursday in which he claimed that his movement had offered a large number of concessions to achieve Palestinian reconciliation.
Marzouk confirmed that the reconciliation meeting scheduled for Cairo last week had been delayed, blaming Ahmad's attack on holding peace talks in Ramallah for the decision.