Palestinian rivals trade blames for postponing reconciliation

Palestinian rival factions Hamas and Fatah on Tuesday accused each other of postponing the Palestinian reconciliation.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman, said in an emailed press release that the statements from Fatah leaders "are a clear slamming of Hamas and reflect a decision for escalation."

Abu Zuhri's words were a reaction to a senior Fatah leader Jibril Rajoub, who said earlier that the previous meeting in Qatar between the two groups' leaders won't form a structure for reconciliation.

"We hope that Rajoub's statements do not represent the official position of Fatah towards the efforts of achieving the internal reconciliation," said Abu Zuhri.

He noted that Fatah should clarify its position in the current dialogue on reconciliation, especially after Rajoub's statements, otherwise "Fatah will be responsible for disturbing the internal reconciliation."

Earlier on Tuesday, the al-Sharq al-Awsat news agency had quoted Rajoub as saying that there will be no reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.

"I don't think that what had been achieved in the last meeting in Doha will help achieve the internal reconciliation," said Rajoub, adding that the statements of Hamas indicated that it always changed policies.

He slammed Hamas positions and called on the faction to be a real partner and part of the Palestinian political structure.

However, Musa Abu Marzooq, Deputy Chief of Hamas, said that Hamas had finished studying the special vision on achieving reconciliation that both Fatah and Hamas agreed upon in Qatar.

"So far, the schedule for holding the second round of dialogue hasn't been decided yet," said Abu Marzooq, explaining the reason as President Mahmoud Abbas to be busy in a foreign visit.

Meanwhile, an anonymous Palestinian official told Xinhua that most of what Hamas had studied and prepared to response was related to the formation of a united government and its political program. Endit