Haniyeh calls for expediting Palestinian reconciliation

Prime Minister of the defunct Palestinian government in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh has called for the acceleration of the achievement of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and the completion of the electoral register for the National Council in response to U.S. and Israeli policies.During a Friday sermon today, Haniyeh called on the Palestinian National Authority to release Hamas detainees, and to implement what was agreed upon in Cairo.He underlined the need for a Palestinian Arab strategy based on ”the Islamic firm positions and adherence to rights, particularly the right of return,” stressing the need to move forward towards reconciliation, end the division and restoration of unity.He urged the Palestinian Authority not to fall prey to the American financial and political temptations and to accelerate reconciliation.Regarding the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to the region, Haniyeh said “we were not surprised by the addresses we heard and Obama’s statements because we know what does the strategic alliance between America and the Israeli occupation authority mean. These position perhaps surprised those who are living in illusions of the start of negotiations and the change in U.S. policies .He believed that Obama’s visit came to assure the occupation (authority) in light of the changes in the region, the achievements made by the Palestinian resistance, and to entrench the occupation, legitimize settlement and to place the Authority as a tool for security cooperation to protect the occupation (authority’s) security.On the developments in the Arab region, Haniyeh said “we do not interfere in the affairs of Egypt, nor any Arab country, and we are not a party to any political dispute within the Egyptian arena or any other country.”He also denied that Hamas or any resisting Palestinian, have any connection with the killing of the Egyptian in last Ramadan. He said: “We have formed committees, and our security effort did not prove that any Palestinian has connection with the killing of the soldiers.”