Palestinian PM to visit Gaza for "empowering gov't there": official

RAMALLAH, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official said Monday that Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and chief of the Palestinian security intelligence services Majid Farraj will visit Gaza on Tuesday.

The visit of the top senior officials is so important and they will discuss important files related to empowering the Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

He said that Rami Hamdallah will inaugurate a desalination plant in northern Gaza Strip, while Farraj will hold talks with the leadership of Islamic Hamas movement, which still rules the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Hamdallah stressed on Sunday that empowering the government in Gaza is not a requirement, but a national entitlement for reconciliation.

"This includes allowing the return of all employees to their work, the financial empowerment through tax collection, full control on crossings for the police and civil defense, imposing public order and the rule of law, and enabling the judiciary to assume its functions in Gaza," said the statement.

He added that the living condition in Gaza is worsening, especially as Israel keeps imposing its siege and the U.S. reduces financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

"This necessitates the consolidation of the national unity to give our cause the necessary influence to protect our land and holy sites and to achieve freedom, independence and sovereignty," said Hamdallah. Enditem