BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – Premier of the Hamas-run government Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that it is too early to talk about standing for presidential elections as Hamas has yet to decide if it will participate.
But Haniyeh said he had no intention to retire anytime soon: “I am not a football player to retire,” he told the Kuwaiti satellite channel Ar-Rai, speaking during his second trip abroad in recent weeks.
Hamas has shown great flexibility during the recent meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal, he said, because the movement is concerned about national unity.
The Hamas leader expressed hopes that the national unity government would come into existence and highlighted that it will carry out specific tasks.
The unity government, he said, will make sure the siege on Gaza is ended, reconstruct what Israel has destroyed, prepare for legislative, presidential, and Palestinian National Council elections as well as reconstruction of Palestinian security services in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
Commenting on the reports about an internal dispute within Hamas over the Doha agreement, Haniyeh said all Hamas’ leaders and figures would respect the agreement as it was signed by Hamas' top leader.
Asked about the crisis in Syria, Haniyeh said Hamas could never deny that the Syrian people and government hosted the Palestinian resistance and opened its doors to the movement’s leaders after they were deported from Jordan. However, events in Syria nowadays are "too bitter" for any Arab or Palestinian.
“The Syrian blood is very dear to us,” he said.
Haniyeh added that Hamas dedicated its efforts to freeing Palestine, and decided not to intervene in internal affairs in any other country.
“Bloodshed in Syria should stop, and the solution to the crisis in Syria should come from the Arabs.”
Haniyeh confirmed that Hamas’ leaders left Syria as a result of the unrest.
Haniyeh arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks before he continues onto the Gulf states.
But Haniyeh said he had no intention to retire anytime soon: “I am not a football player to retire,” he told the Kuwaiti satellite channel Ar-Rai, speaking during his second trip abroad in recent weeks.
Hamas has shown great flexibility during the recent meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal, he said, because the movement is concerned about national unity.
The Hamas leader expressed hopes that the national unity government would come into existence and highlighted that it will carry out specific tasks.
The unity government, he said, will make sure the siege on Gaza is ended, reconstruct what Israel has destroyed, prepare for legislative, presidential, and Palestinian National Council elections as well as reconstruction of Palestinian security services in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.
Commenting on the reports about an internal dispute within Hamas over the Doha agreement, Haniyeh said all Hamas’ leaders and figures would respect the agreement as it was signed by Hamas' top leader.
Asked about the crisis in Syria, Haniyeh said Hamas could never deny that the Syrian people and government hosted the Palestinian resistance and opened its doors to the movement’s leaders after they were deported from Jordan. However, events in Syria nowadays are "too bitter" for any Arab or Palestinian.
“The Syrian blood is very dear to us,” he said.
Haniyeh added that Hamas dedicated its efforts to freeing Palestine, and decided not to intervene in internal affairs in any other country.
“Bloodshed in Syria should stop, and the solution to the crisis in Syria should come from the Arabs.”
Haniyeh confirmed that Hamas’ leaders left Syria as a result of the unrest.
Haniyeh arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks before he continues onto the Gulf states.
Maan News Agency
No comments:
Post a Comment