Hamas accuses Bush of trying to start a Palestinian civil war
The Islamic resistance movement Hamas accused the US President George W. Bush of trying to set ablaze a civil war among the Palestinians.
The spokesman for Hamas, Sami Abu Zihri, said that Bush wants to set fire among the Palestinians by Bush urging President Abbas to confront the Palestinian groups and dismantle their weapons, considering such pressure as "a flagrant American interference" in the Palestinian affairs.
Abu Zihri said that the statements of the American president is an evidence of the US bias to Israel, and a reflection of hostility against the Palestinian people.
For his part, chief Palestinian negotiators Saeb Oreikat expressed satisfaction because Bush has not supported openly the demand set by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon of banning Hamas from the next parliamentary elections.
Oreikat said that " the most important thing is to carry out our elections in January without obstacles." He added " Bush did not indicate the question of the participation of Hamas in the elections."
Abbas in Washington at a joint conference with US President George W. Bush yesterday said that approximately 100 days remain before Palestinians vote for their representatives on the Palestinian Legislative Council for the first time in 10 years, marking a "very important landmark." He said that the Palestinian Authority, to discourage terrorism, asked all groups to accept a "hudna," or calming, and then obtained an agreement from all groups to end armed demonstrations.
"Now all groups are under way to the electoral process, so all groups will become a part of the political Palestinian fabric. I believe this will create a new phase in the life of Palestinian people, a phase of democracy and pluralism... in order to be a solid base for peace in the region," Abbas said. Bush for his part said "The way forward must begin by confronting the threat that armed gangs pose to a genuinely democratic Palestine.Ê And those armed gangs must confront the threat that armed gangs pose to lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians."