Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem in favour of Fatah-Hamas agreement
Reconciliation responds "to the Palestinian aspirations for unity and we must be happy." Amazement at the criticism voiced by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. In any case, Msgr. Twal remains committed to a "peace for all, a good understanding with Israel and unity between the Palestinian brothers. "
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Mgr. Fouad Twal, has given a positive response to the news of an agreement reached yesterday in Doha between Hamas and Fatah to entrust to the guidance of a Palestinian unity government to Mahmoud Abbas. "We want peace with and among all," said the head of the Latin Church, among Palestinians and between Palestinians and Israel. The "Doha Declaration" was the outcome of meetings that took place February 5, between Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority and Fatah, and Hamas leader Khaled Mechaal. Relations have been strained between the two parties since 2007 and after the rise to power of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The agreement is to strengthen a "reconciliation agreement" signed in 2011. The meeting was held in the presence of the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and following the initiative of King Abdullah of Jordan.
The agreement will be confirmed in Cairo on February 18. The President of the Palestinian Authority will lead a transitional government, for the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The parties have agreed to "pursue the process of restructuring the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in order to integrate Hamas and Islamic Jihad into the bosom of this instance, which represents all Palestinians." The government will also have the duty to "supervise the reconstruction of Gaza" and "prepare for the elections" originally scheduled for May 4, 2012.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem said that he "sees no obstacle to all Palestinians helping Mahmoud Abbas to implement these two initiatives." The Palestinian president is "a man of moderation, of openness and cooperation." Thanks to the agreement, Mahmoud Abbas will be both President and Prime Minister, replacing the economist Salam Fayyad, supported by the West. The patriarch expressed regret at this change, looking at the "great work carried out successfully, quietly and seriously by Salam Fayyad to prepare the infrastructure of a future Palestinian state."
The Doha agreement was criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "If Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas, ed) applies that was signed in Doha, he chooses to abandon the path of peace to join Hamas," he said. "Or peace with Hamas or peace with Israel. You can not have both. " "Not so!": The patriarch marvels at "this reaction" because "this meets the aspirations of the Palestinians for reconciliation and unity and we must be happy." Archbishop Fouad Twal adds: "We want peace for all, a good understanding with Israel and that the Palestinian brothers are united in all their currents of political thought. Besides, every family comprises members with opposing points of view". The patriarch, speaks of an " abnormal reciprocity " in the two camps, "where there are those who do not want to recognize the State of Israel and others do not want to recognize the state of Palestine."
The Patriarch hopes that reconciliation "can help keep the negotiations on track, which have never ceased, either directly or indirectly. The proof of this is the release of the soldier Shalit and of over a thousand Palestinians. Dialogue is made for people who do not get along. There is nothing to be gained in wanting to break off talks. We must fight against the spirit of division, it is never the best way to find a path of peace. "
Archbishop Twal asks for prayers "for a just and final peace in the Holy Land and the countries that surround it" and says that the changes in the Arab world should not be ignored. By anyone. The patriarch said that "the Syrian crisis worries us very much "and that he understands the fear of religious leaders in Syria, who are afraid of ending up by becoming another Iraq.
The agreement will be confirmed in Cairo on February 18. The President of the Palestinian Authority will lead a transitional government, for the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The parties have agreed to "pursue the process of restructuring the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in order to integrate Hamas and Islamic Jihad into the bosom of this instance, which represents all Palestinians." The government will also have the duty to "supervise the reconstruction of Gaza" and "prepare for the elections" originally scheduled for May 4, 2012.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem said that he "sees no obstacle to all Palestinians helping Mahmoud Abbas to implement these two initiatives." The Palestinian president is "a man of moderation, of openness and cooperation." Thanks to the agreement, Mahmoud Abbas will be both President and Prime Minister, replacing the economist Salam Fayyad, supported by the West. The patriarch expressed regret at this change, looking at the "great work carried out successfully, quietly and seriously by Salam Fayyad to prepare the infrastructure of a future Palestinian state."
The Doha agreement was criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "If Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas, ed) applies that was signed in Doha, he chooses to abandon the path of peace to join Hamas," he said. "Or peace with Hamas or peace with Israel. You can not have both. " "Not so!": The patriarch marvels at "this reaction" because "this meets the aspirations of the Palestinians for reconciliation and unity and we must be happy." Archbishop Fouad Twal adds: "We want peace for all, a good understanding with Israel and that the Palestinian brothers are united in all their currents of political thought. Besides, every family comprises members with opposing points of view". The patriarch, speaks of an " abnormal reciprocity " in the two camps, "where there are those who do not want to recognize the State of Israel and others do not want to recognize the state of Palestine."
The Patriarch hopes that reconciliation "can help keep the negotiations on track, which have never ceased, either directly or indirectly. The proof of this is the release of the soldier Shalit and of over a thousand Palestinians. Dialogue is made for people who do not get along. There is nothing to be gained in wanting to break off talks. We must fight against the spirit of division, it is never the best way to find a path of peace. "
Archbishop Twal asks for prayers "for a just and final peace in the Holy Land and the countries that surround it" and says that the changes in the Arab world should not be ignored. By anyone. The patriarch said that "the Syrian crisis worries us very much "and that he understands the fear of religious leaders in Syria, who are afraid of ending up by becoming another Iraq.
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