Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrapped up his two-day visit
to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday afternoon after obtaining
reassurance of support for his Palestinian National Authority
(PNA).
Abbas left Abu Dhabi Sunday afternoon after holding talks with
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime
Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the latest
developments in the Palestinian territories, according to reports
by the official Emirates News Agency.
During his meeting with Abbas, Sheikh Khalifa reiterated his
country's "firm" stance in the support of the Palestinian people as
well as the PNA , led by Abbas.
The UAE president called on the Palestinian people to unite
together and put their differences aside to tackle the challenges
facing them, referring apparently to recent violent conflicts
between the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah.
Sheikh Khalifa also urged the international community to work
seriously to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and to
jumpstart the peace process on the basis of the Arab Peace
Initiative reactivated in the 19th Arab summit in Riyadh in March,
which is expected to lead to the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state.
During his meeting with Abbas, Sheikh Hamdan also stressed the
need to boost international efforts to revive the Middle East peace
process.
During his meeting with the UAE leaders, Abbas expressed his
appreciation of UAE for its continuous support for the Palestinians
in various areas.
Abbas arrived Saturday night in UAE after winding up a short
visit to Jordan where he discussed with some Arab lawmakers the
prospect of starting talks between Fatah and Hamas factions.
Hamas militants overran members of Fatah led by Abbas and took
control of the Gaza Strip last month, during which at least 100
Palestinians were killed.
In response, Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led unity government,
which took office on March 17, and swore in an emergency government
in the West Bank, which Hamas denounced as "illegitimate."
Abbas also outlawed Hamas' armed group and the Executive Forces
and refused to hold any dialogue with Hamas.
But UAE, a member state of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation
Council, has called on rival Palestinian factions to resume
dialogue.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said on Saturday that the Islamic
movement welcomed any internal or foreign efforts to narrow gaps
between it and Fatah to promote the resumption of talks.
(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2007)
