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Hamas Accuses Fatah of Subversion | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Khaled Abu Arafa, minister of Jerusalem affairs in the Hamas government stands next to an Israeli border police officer after he was detained at the police station in the West Bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim, April 6, 2006 (AP)


Khaled Abu Arafa, minister of Jerusalem affairs in the Hamas government stands next to an Israeli border police officer after he was detained at the police station in the West Bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim, April 6, 2006 (AP)

Khaled Abu Arafa, minister of Jerusalem affairs in the Hamas government stands next to an Israeli border police officer after he was detained at the police station in the West Bank settlement of Maaleh Adumim, April 6, 2006 (AP)

London, Asharq Al-Awsat- Hamas sources have revealed told Asharq Al-Awsat it has information that Fatah leaders are planning to topple the new Hamas government through public pressure. The sources said senior Fatah members are planning to recruit armed factions affiliated to Fatah, such as the Al-Aq’sa Martyrs Brigades, as well as impoverished civilians, and organize mass protests against the government.

The sources also said the government’s ability to control security disorder orchestrated by Fatah is limited, since the security forces are largely dominated by Fatah.

elsewhere Senior Hamas officials on Friday denied reports their new government was ready for a two-state solution with Israel or would present such a proposal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

“This talk is not correct … Hamas won’t change it’s thinking and won’t introduce such a massive shift in its thinking and risk losing its constituency,” Deputy Prime Minister Naser al-Shaer told Reuters.

Any readiness to talk about a two-state solution would imply recognition of Israel, which the Islamic militant group is formally sworn to destroy.

Hamas has come under Western pressure to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace deals or risk losing vital aid.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who is also a Hamas leader, is due to meet Abbas later on Friday in Gaza.

“No one will present such a proposal to the president, neither to the government,” said Shaer, seen as a moderate within the Hamas leadership.

Palestinian cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad added: “This issue is not on the agenda for the prime minister’s meeting with President Abbas.”

Hamas, which defeated Abbas’s long-dominant Fatah movement in January elections, has vowed to keep fighting the Jewish state since taking over the Palestinian government last week. It says talks with Israel would be a waste of time.

Israel calls Hamas a terrorist organization and has vowed not to negotiate with the group.

In an interview with Britain’s Times newspaper published on Friday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, said the group was prepared to discuss what was meant by a two-state solution.

Zahar said he wanted clarification on the issue from the “Quartet” of Middle East mediators — the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia.

“Let us speak about what is the meaning of the two-state solution,” Zahar was quoted as saying. “We will ask them what is their concept concerning the two-state solution.”

Earlier this week, Zahar denied referring to a two-state solution to the conflict in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya chairs the first cabinet meeting since Hamas assumed power, in Gaza City (AFP)

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya chairs the first cabinet meeting since Hamas assumed power, in Gaza City (AFP)

Palestinian boys look through a hole made by an Israeli helicopter after an attack at the Fatah movement office early on Friday in northern Gaza April 7, 2006 (REUTERS)

Palestinian boys look through a hole made by an Israeli helicopter after an attack at the Fatah movement office early on Friday in northern Gaza April 7, 2006 (REUTERS)