Palestinians await Haniyeh's verdict for elections

The Community Reconciliation Committee, Gaza – Mohammad Habib The Community Reconciliation Committee, one of the committees emerging from the Palestinian reconciliation agreed upon in Cairo, is to convene for the fourth time on Monday, in Gaza, to discuss the mechanisms of its work. Democratic Front member of the committee, Saleh Nasser, stated that the meeting would be “administrative” but with a “preparatory” nature, and it will address the financial aspect of the committee, seeking to implement its tasks.
Nasser said in a press release that the meeting will also discuss the formation of sub-committees in different provinces.
The groups will include a media committee, committee for complaints, legal committee and a public relations committee.
The committees will collect data and make decisions on those injured, killed and buildings demolished during fighting between Hamas and Fatah, he added.
The reconciliation process may be slow, but it is the main priority in the Palestinian agenda, he said.
He added that the Tuesday meeting will resume the discussions of last Tuesday’s meeting, and will focus on the implementation of new committee’s tasks, as well as arranging the structure of the committee.
The head of the regional office of the Central Elections Commission in Gaza Strip Jameel Khaldi stated that his committee awaits the response of Gaza’s PM Ismail Haniyeh about simplifying the work of the committee staff.
Haniyeh had previously stressed the need to speed up the formation of a National Unity Government under one leadership which protects rights and constants, saying the elections are the only civilized way to take over authority.
Khaldi stated that setting the date for the elections is a political decision discussed by authoritative figures and executed by the committee, which does not influence the decision.
Meanwhile, MP Mustafa Barghouti, spokesman of the Committee of Freedoms and Building Trust in the West Bank, called on Hamas and Fatah to seriously implement their decisions on the ground.
Barghouti said in several press statements that the committee called for a meeting with leaders of both parties in the West Bank and the Strip, to address the rift between them.
Member of the central committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Kayed Ghoul said that the slowdown of the committees emerging from the reconciliation is causing disappointment among Palestinians and raises scepticism about the possibility of success of the national reconciliation.
As Ghoul stressed in press statements, PFLP has two options to step out of the current Palestinian crisis and end the division: first, the quick activation of the reconciliation committees; second, the organisation of a meeting that includes unified leadership of PLO.
Ghoul said that some pressure has to be made on Hamas and Fatah to set aside their disagreements in order to move forward with the reconciliation's process, which is hindered by the division and by betting on external parties to help.
PFLP leader stated that “betting on external movements” is one of the reasons hampering the reconciliation, stressing that postponing the leadership meeting which was scheduled on February 2 is not for the benefit of the reconciliation.
Finally, he stated that there are parties from both sides that do not want the reconciliation, as it will not serve their best interests, and that are constantly working on impeding it.