Hamas accuses Fatah of wrecking unity efforts

Hamas accuses Fatah of wrecking unity efforts

2010-11-23 01:42:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

GAZA CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Hamas on Monday accused the Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of sabotaging the unity efforts with its series of arrests in the West Bank area.

"The arrests carried out by the security services of Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad against symbols of national action and representatives of the Palestinian people are poisoning the atmosphere," Hamas said in a statement.

According to Hamas, more than 50 armed men of the security services of the Palestinian Authority on Sunday raided the residence of Fathi al-Qarawi, arrested one of his sons and seized computers. In addition, a preacher, Tamam Abu Saud, was taken into custody from her Nablus residence in the West Bank.

Hamas considers that the arrests represent new obstacles to "Palestinian national reconciliation." It added that the actions seem to indicate that President Abbas is not serious in wanting to achieve a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.

The accusation is the latest provocation that threaten any probable deal between Fatah and the ruling Hamas. Egypt has mediated a series of reconciliation attempts without success. Fatah and Hamas frequently accuse each other of undermining trust by persecuting political rivals.

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