Fatah, Hamas 'disfiguring Palestinian image'

Inflammatory crossfire remarks between Fatah and Hamas are undermining and disfiguring the united Palestinian image in front of the international community, according to the Independent Palestinian Figures group in West Bank, Gaza. Dr Yasser al-Wadia, a representative from IPF stated that before any real peace could emerge, both sides will "need to become one." Dr al-Wadia called on Palestinian citizens to apply pressure to try and unite members of both sides. Hamas officials on Tuesday accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of trying to influence the Egyptian media against the Islamic Resistance Movement. In a press conference, the group read out documents which they claim link Abbas, leader of the Fatah group, to a committee set up to “demonise Hamas and the Gaza Strip in Egypt.” Dr al-Wadia called on the leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal to immediately prepare reconciliation between both factions, and to incorporate the Doha agreement signed in Cairo in April 2011. The agreement signed by Khaled Meshaal placed Mahmoud Abbas as the head of an interim government charged with organising elections later in 2012.