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Erekat: King Abdullah Advised Mahmoud Abbas to Make Sacrifices to End Palestinian Division | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- Saeb Erekat, head negotiator for the PLO revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that during the Saudi – Palestinian summit which took place on Sunday in Jeddah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz advised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to make “sacrifices” in order to put an end to Palestinian division.

A range of issues were discussed in the meeting that took place between King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas. The summit also examined ways of forcing Israel to put a halt to its new round of settlement building projects, which has become an obstacle to US President Barack Obama’s efforts to bring the Arab and Israelis back to the peace table.

Erekat told Asharq Al-Awsat yesterday that King Abdullah had “expressed great alarm over the continuation of the [Palestinian] division.”

Erekat added “He [King Abdullah] was the first to make initiatives to contain the Palestinian division by way of the Mecca Agreement. President Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] said that the brothers in Egypt are making significant efforts, and they will announce their position in the coming days. We are making every possible effort to put an end to this division.”

During his meeting with the Palestinian President and his delegation, King Abdullah stressed that Palestinian unity would enhance the Palestinian Cause, and the continuation of this division has begun to threaten all aspects of the Palestinian Cause.

Saeb Erekat also revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi leadership had “expressed its complete support to the Palestinian leadership in their efforts to put a stop to the Israeli settlement activities, as well as the Israeli measures taken in Jerusalem, including the demolition of walls, houses, and settlements:”