Ramallah, 14-12-06: Efforts to form a government of national unity will continue says Palestinian National Initiative General Secretary, Mustafa Barghouthi MP, despite an apparent end to talks between the two main political factions, Fatah and Hamas.
Dr. Barghouthi continues to play a key role in efforts to mediate between the two sides towards forming a national unity government, a role which has seen him meet with leaders from both sides in recent months, including President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas leader Khaled Mash’al, and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh among others.
In response to rumours that new elections will be held following the latest meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the parliamentarian reported that negotiations had not yet reached the point of no return and that efforts could still be made to form a national unity government.
Dr. Barghouthi held the two major political factions responsible for the current impasse, and indicated that the only alternative to dialogue and a united government was a quick descent into internal violence and chaos, in which ordinary Palestinians would suffer further.
He again condemned this week’s tragic murder of three young children in the Gaza Strip as one example of this, and stated that no party or political group should provide protection to those who carry out such crimes against the Palestinian people. He called for a return to the rule of law and for those guilty of this horrific crime to be brought to justice.
Dr. Barghouthi emphasized that if all hopes fail of forming a national unity government new elections could be a last resort, but that this decision should be taken with the agreement of all political factions and movements, and not by one side alone.