Mishaal: The Palestinian split is behind us

[ 04/05/2011 - 09:58 PM ]

CAIRO, GAZA, (PIC)-- Hamas politburo chairman Khalid Mishaal has said that ”the page of the black Palestinian split has been turned and is now behind us,” stressing that the only battle for the Palestinians was with Israel.

He was speaking on Wednesday at a ceremony held at Egyptian intelligence services headquarters to celebrate the signing of a national unity agreement between Hamas and Fatah as well as other Palestinian factions.

The ceremony was attended by prominent Arab, Muslim, and international figures.

Mishaal emphasized that the signing of the agreement came for the sake of the Palestinian people and the Arab people who are rising up across the Middle East, foremost of whom are ”the great people of Egypt”.

"We want to achieve the joint national goal of establishing an independent state on the land of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, without the presence of any Zionist settlers,” Mishaal said.

He gave special thanks to the leadership, government, and people of Egypt for contributing and sponsoring the national talks that led to the deal.

Hamas and the remaining Palestinian factions would continue to have mutual understanding in managing the political situation.

"[We are] ready to come to a joint administration of resistance and diplomatic movement,” he said.

The ceremony began at 1:30pm and included Robert Serry, sent as an envoy by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League, as well as Arab and Muslim officials.

Foreign diplomats who attended include Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davotoglu.

For his part, Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas said: ”We have turned the page of division forever”.

Abbas, who heads the Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank, sent a message to Israel to choose between settlement construction and peace.

Political analysts in Palestine have confirmed that the Mishaal speech following the historic deal reflect Hamas's desire for reconciliation.

Mishaal made some very important implications, writer and political analyst Mustafa Sawwaf told the PIC. Most importantly he said that Hamas is ready to ”pay the price and dues” for reconciliation and to end the split.

This is a responsible position by Mishaal, Sawwaf said.

Sawwaf noted that Mishaal's acceptance of elections proves that Hamas sees the elections as a way for the Palestinians to choose their leaders entrusted with preserving their rights over the upcoming stage.

The most beautiful thing about his speech is that he didn't respond to the formalities imposed by Mahmoud Abbas but instead overlooked them.

"Mishaal didn't neglect in his speech to direct a message to Israel that Hamas maintains its strength to face the Israeli occupation,” said Eyad al-Qara, a writer and Gaza university professor. ”This implies that Hamas will maintain its military strength in the coming stage and that diplomacy alone is not enough.”

"What distinguishes Khalid Mishaal's speech is that he stayed away from details that could have triggered a tense atmosphere,” Qara said.

• Resheq: Abbas, Mishaal agree on accelerating government formation
• Hamas, Fatah bury four-year split in Cairo　

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Hamas leaders confer with Egyptian foreign minister

[ 04/05/2011 - 08:21 AM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)-- A senior delegation of the Hamas movement led by its political bureau chief Khaled Mishaal conferred in Cairo last night with Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Al-Arabi.

The PIC reporter said that the discussions tackled latest Palestinian developments, noting that a number of Egyptian diplomats attended the meeting.

The delegates later Tuesday met with Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa.

The Hamas team arrived in Cairo on Sunday evening for a series of talks with Egyptian officials and to sign the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

The Palestinian factions signed the agreement on Tuesday in the presence of senior faction leaders under Egyptian patronage.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

On Khalid Amayreh, Syrian Brothers "revolution" and the great day for Palestine

Dear Khalid

I hope you are right, but in a previous article ( Not posted at PIC - I appreciate that) you decided that  "the totalitarian police-state apparatus which has been ruling Syria since the early sixties must be dismantled and terminated once and for all. The Baath party is inherently undemocratic; it can't be reformed, it must be ended."

Do you really believe the Police State which has been rulling the WB since Oslo, and Gaza upto the so-called Hamas coup must not be dismantled and terminated once and for all. That Fateh "is inherently undemocratic; it can be reformed, it must not be ended."

Yes "Hamas has won by having all its conditions and objections met. We must not forget that Hamas was supposed to be destroyed according to the American-Zionist designs; so the fact that Hamas has remained a hard, independent variable is indeed a great achievement. This proves that not everything Palestinian must be subject to the Zionist will."

But, how come you forget that Syria, the solid corner of resistance in Lebanon and Gaza "was supposed to be destroyed according to the American-Zionist designs;" so the fact that Syria has remained a hard, independent variable is indeed a great achievement. This proves that not everything Syrian must be subject to the Zionist will.

I would have expected "A great day for Syria", if your Sytian Brothers are like our Hamas Brothers, tortured to death in PA's and Mubarak Prisons while their leaders, talking shelter in Syria.

I understand and second your call for working "overtime to rectify and correct all that went wrong during these gloomy four years. Prisoners or detainees must be set free, media incitement must end immediately, closed institutions must be reopened; and human rights and civil liberties must be reinstituted. Also grievances must be settled and hard feelings soothed and reconciled."

But, Khalid, why you don't ask your "Syrian" brothers to "work overtime to rectify and correct all that went wrong during the "Syrian" gloomy years?????

I understand your applauding our big sister and its "The revolutionary leadership" for its "tireless efforts" and dedication for four months to bring about this paramount national reconciliation among the brothers in Palestine.", but I can't understand, nor forgive  smearing our "little sister, Syria, though it didn't fire a single bullet on the Israeli occupiers of the Golan Heights, paid tireless efforts and dedication  for 40 years to keep resistance option up, in Palestine, in Lebanon at least since 1982, and in Iraq after the invasion??

Some consistency please

Khalid Amayreh: A great day for Palestine

[ 28/04/2011 - 07:12 PM ]

By Khalid Amayreh

[ 28/04/2011 - 07:12 PM ]

Much to the chagrin of the hateful Zionist entity, Hamas and Fatah seem to have reached a final agreement, putting an end to four years of a crippling national rift which exhausted the Palestinian people as never before and gave Israel a valuable opportunity to try liquidate the Palestinian cause.

News of the agreement has already generated instantaneous reactions of excitement and joy, even euphoria in the occupied territories.

Motorists honked their car horns, youngsters took to the streets shouting "Fatah and Hamas: one people not two." Some women ululated with joy as Fatah and Hamas leaders appeared on TV screens in Cairo, announcing the conclusion of the long-awaited agreement. Some restaurants and eateries offered free coffee, tea and juices as celebrations went on until around midnight.

On the Israeli side, Israeli leaders were visibly angry and disappointed, with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyah threatening the Palestinian leadership with what looked like a virtual ultimatum:

"The PA would have to choose between peace with Hamas and peace with Israel. It can't choose both."

One Fatah official retorted: "We also say Israel would have to choose between peace with the Palestinian people and peace with racist settlers, it can't choose both."

Well, Netanyahu's threats should be rejected outright and treated with the utter contempt they deserve.

After all, this is an internal Palestinian matter and Israel has absolutely no right to intervene in our internal affairs.

Netanyahu may argue that Hamas doesn't recognize Israel. Well, Netanyahu should be reminded that he presides over a government the bulk of which doesn't recognize Palestine.

In the final analysis, why should Hamas, or for that matter Fatah, recognize Israel when Israel refuses to recognize the very existence of the Palestinian people.

So, if the next Palestinian government of national unity shouldn't include groups that don't recognize Israel, by the same token, Palestinians have the right to demand that any Israeli government must exclude groups and parties that don't recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Needless to say, the current Israeli government includes explicitly fascist parties that don't even recognize the very existence of the Palestinian people.

The conclusion of the reconciliation agreement in Cairo has really dealt a sharp blow to nefarious Zionist designs. Israel first lost a great strategic asset in the dramatic downfall of the Mubarak dynasty and now we have these good tidings from Cairo. More good news is coming up, inshallah (God willing). [From where Khalid?, I guess from syria - God forbid]

Netanyahu and other Zionist supremacists may rant and rave for as long as they may. This shouldn't shake even one hair on our bodies.

None the less, we must not be too preoccupied with self-congratulating ourselves on this auspicious occasion. Yes there is no doubt that the present that both Hamas and Fatah have handed over to the Palestinian people is great.

However, we must work overtime to rectify and correct all that went wrong during these gloomy four years. Prisoners or detainees must be set free, media incitement must end immediately, closed institutions must be reopened; and human rights and civil liberties must be reinstituted. Also grievances must be settled and hard feelings soothed and reconciled.

In short, we must get the slate clean as soon as possible and allow for the total obliteration of all the scars of division.

In this agreement, there seems to be only winners. Everyone is winning as a result of this breakthrough except Israel and the enemies of our people.

Hamas has won by having all its conditions and objections met. We must not forget that Hamas was supposed to be destroyed according to the American-Zionist designs; so the fact that Hamas has remained a hard, independent variable is indeed a great achievement. This proves that not everything Palestinian must be subject to the Zionist will.

Fatah has also won by showing Israel that Fatah won't be co-opted and manipulated against Palestinian national interest. Fatah won by demonstrating that it will remain a national and patriotic movement despite American and Israeli designs.

And the Palestinian people has won by overcoming one of the most formidable internal crises ever to mar the Palestinian struggle for freedom from the claws of diabolic Zionism.

We must also thank our big sister, Egypt, without which the conclusion of this agreement wouldn't have been possible. The revolutionary leadership in Cairo must be applauded for its tireless efforts and dedication to bring about this paramount national reconciliation among the brothers in Palestine. This should be a good omen for the future.

Finally, we Palestinians should instill in ourselves a feeling of optimism. The restoration of Palestinian national unity, along with the strategic changes in the Arab region, is huge assets and opportunities that should be utilized for the ultimate liberation of Palestine .

• US Intervention in Syria

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

Mishaal, national figures discuss Palestinian reconciliation in Damascus

[ 23/04/2011 - 10:14 AM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- Head of Hamas's political bureau Khaled Mishaal met in Damascus on Thursday with a Palestinian delegation of independent national figures led by businessman Muneeb Al-Masri and discussed with them the issue of the internal reconciliation.

The two sides talked about the developments in the Palestinian arena and the initiative made by the delegation to end the division and promote national unity.

The meeting was described as serious and positive and both sides agreed on the need for continuing these efforts.

For his part, Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya met with a delegation of Palestinian businessmen at the cabinet headquarters in Gaza on Thursday.

Haneyya reiterated his government's keenness on ending the inter-Palestinian division and spare Gaza people any Israeli aggression.

The premier also briefed the guests about the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, especially the murder of Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni.

In the same context, a delegation of independent figures on the same day met with Hamas lawmakers in Nablus city within the efforts being made nowadays to end the division and restore the national unity.

The delegation briefed the lawmakers about their meetings in this regard with Egyptian officials, including the foreign minister, the intelligence director, and the Arab League secretary-general.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

True Muslims don’t do that

Comment by Khalid Amayreh

[ 16/04/2011 - 02:13 PM ]

We don't know for sure as of yet who murdered international Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni. However, whoever committed this despicable crime must be a human beast walking on two legs.

Vittorio Arrigoni was abducted on Thursday, 14 April, in Central Gaza. Members of a notoriously fanatical group posted a video online saying they would kill him unless the Gaza government released detained Salafists from prison.

Within a few hours of the warning, Arrigoni's body was found in an empty house.

Arrigoni's death has infuriated Palestinians everywhere. Ismael Haniya, the elected Prime Minister of Hamas called Arrigoni's murder a "nefarious crime that goes against our religion, norms and traditions." A spokesman for the Gaza government described the perpetrators as "thugs and murderers of the lowest kind."

One Islamist writer, Ibrahim Hamami, called the murderers, "the lowest of the low."

The accused group, the Tawhid and Jihad, has denied posting the video or any involvement in the killing of Arrigoni. They hinted that the Israeli intelligence may have been the real killers of the Italian activist.

And while Israel can never be ruled out as an accused party, it is widely believed that the so-called Salafi group (Salafi means a true follower of the Prophet) remains the premier suspect. They are guilty until proven innocent, given the prima facie evidence that would indict them.

It is true that the Salafis are not carbon copies of each other. However, the militant Salafis have been accused of abductions, killings, attacking internet cafes, and calling for the expulsion of Christians from the Gaza Strip.

A group of Salafis last year carried out an armed rebellion against the Hamas-led government during which several people lost their lives. In one episode, an intermediary who was carrying a message to their leaders was brutally murdered by those who called themselves Muslims. Islam is absolutely against killing messengers even in war time.

One would hope to give these stupid fanatics the benefit of the doubt. However, their diabolic crimes in many parts of the Muslim world leave us no doubt as to their true nature.

They claim they are out to fight the armies of the disbelievers who have invaded some Muslim countries. However, the falsehood and mendacity of their claims are made clear by the fact that for every western soldier they killed, they murdered at least a hundred Muslim men, women, and children.

And when they are confronted with these crimes, they often seek vague, erroneous, spurious and invalid edicts to justify and rationalize what is obviously evil.

Islam is not a vague religion, especially when it comes to human life. However, these ignorant fanatics seem to have been blinded by their misplaced zeal and ignorance.

They thrive and prosper and become quite gleeful upon killing innocent people, whether Muslims or non-Muslims. And they think that by so doing they endear themselves to the Almighty when the opposite is true.

Have the killers asked themselves what in the world would justify killing Arrigoni, a man who came all the way from Italy to identify with the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice? What wrong did he do? What crime did he commit? Didn't they realize that Arrigoni may have done so much for Gaza which has now been besmirched by their cowardly crime?

Arrigoni didn't come to Gaza as an aggressor or invader. He came to show solidarity with its wronged people and highlight the immense oppression meted out to be people by the Nazis of our time, the Zionist Israelis.

Hence, the claim that he came to the Land of Islam to spread corruption and disbelief should be treated with the utter contempt it deserves.

Again, there is no doubt that these ignoramuses are victims of their ignorance. They don't represent the true followers of the Prophet (PBUH) who was quoted as saying according to authentic hadith that "whoever oppresses a Mua'hed (a non-Muslim resident or traveler in the land of Islam), or arrogated his rights, or takes something away from him against his will, or forces him to do that which is beyond his ability, I shall be his opponent on the Day of Judgment."

In another hadith, the Prophet said "whoever killed a non-Muslim living in the land of Islam shall not smell the fragrance of paradise; verily its fragrance is smelled from a distance of a 40-year travel."

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