Obama visit won’t change anything

Senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmed has dismissed US President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Palestine, saying it will not have “a major effect on the Palestinian cause.” The US President is set to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories during a three-day tour starting on March 20. During the visit, he will meet with Israel’s head of state, Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. "Obama is visiting the region for internal reasons to do with America and absolutely nothing else, but it has been marketed as a trip designed to established peace in Iran and Syria," al-Ahmed told Arabstoday. "I don't hold out much hope for his visit and I don't think it will have a major effect on the Palestinian cause," he added. Speaking about the current situation in Palestine, the Fatah official said: "Negotiations are still on hold, settlements are going ahead and the occupation has recently intensified its attacks on Palestinians."  Al-Ahmed also spoke about a possible reconciliation with Hamas - Fatah’s opposition party in Palestine. "There's nothing new there. Nothing is blocking reconciliation, but there is an agreed schedule which we're following. Everything on that schedule has been carried out, and we're now interested in finishing the voters' register which the Central Electoral Commission has put together,” said al-Ahmed. “According to Hanna Nasser, it will be finished by April 10, after which we will complete talks to form the national consensus government," he explained "We hope nothing happens that would lead to the current division persisting," he said. In reference to Hamas’s current statues in the West Bank, al-Ahmend said: "Absolutely normal, nothing's changed. They come and go as they please and when they please. They talk about recent arrests among their ranks and supporters, but I think there's nothing unusual about these arrests.” “President Mahmoud Abbas informed everyone (including the Hamas leadership and 11 members of the Politburo), that no-one is above the law. Any cases involving weapons, smuggling or money laundering, including members of Fatah or Hamas, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," al-Ahmed concluded.