Ramallah: 31-10-06: After a month of shuttle diplomacy between the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Syria mediating between members of the Palestinian presidency and the Palestinian government, Independent Palestine MP, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, reported that he had made positive, concrete progress towards seeking the formation of a national unity government.
A series of separate meetings between Dr. Barghouthi and President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, and Palestinian leaders in the diaspora, have brought closer the possibility of resolving differences between the two sides, and of forming a government based on the National Reconciliation Document (knows as the Prisoners Document); one that would be credible in the eyes of Palestinians themselves, and both the Arab and international communities, said Dr. Barghouthi.
He reported that talks had been fruitful, and that the two sides were more willing to put factional differences aside in the interest of national affairs and the welfare of the Palestinian people.
Dr. Barghouthi stressed the urgency of forming a national unity government in order to end the political and economic blockade, which, on top of increased Israeli military activity, has brought Palestinians to the brink of humanitarian, political and economic crisis.
He underlined that a national unity government is the most effective means to bring an immediate end to the suffering endured by the Palestinian people in recent months since the elections early 2006, and to initiate the process of reform of the Palestinian Authority that people have voted for, opening the door for a true and comprehensive peace process.