Israel Matzav

How's that 'Palestinian unity' coming along?

A senior 'Palestinian Authority' official has accused Hamas of serving Iran's interests at the expense of the 'Palestinians' and other Arabs.

Tayeb Abdel Rahim, Director-General of the PA Presidency and member of the Fatah Central Council, claimed that Hamas had forged an alliance with Iran in a way that harms Arab national security and Palestinian interests.

"Hamas has turned the Palestinian cause into a cheap card in the hands of Iran," Abdel Rahim said in an interview with a local Palestinian radio station. "They have done this at the expense of the Palestinian issue and the unity of the Palestinian people and homeland."

The PA official said that the issue of Hamas's purported alliance with Iran was at the core of this week's talks between Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal in Riyadh.

He hinted that Syria and Iran had intervened with the Saudis to receive Mashaal.

"Hamas must give a clear answer," Abdel Rahim said. "Are you with the Palestinian cause or a pawn in the hands of others? Are you in favor of Arab national security or are you aligned with those who pose a threat to this security? Where do you stand?"

The PA official said that Hamas's actions and rhetoric proved that the movement has become a "pawn in the hands of Iran."

He nevertheless urged Hamas to accept an Egyptian proposal for "reconciliation" with Fatah "so as not to give Israel an excuse to say that there is no partner on the Palestinian side."

Meanwhile, 'Palestinian' chief negotiator bottle washer Saeb Erekat insisted that 'negotiations' have to start from Ehud Olmert's concessions of December 2008. Good luck with that.

There aren't going to be negotiations anytime soon, and there's not likely to be any 'Palestinian unity' either. Maybe they can start throwing each other off roofs again for entertainment.

Heh.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:33 PM