Abbas: Palestinian unity always the aim

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has announced the Fatah and Hamas leadership are working hard to achieve national reconciliation. "Since the first moments of the coup, national reconciliation has been a goal and an objective of ours and we continue to strive to achieve it,” Abbas said, in an address marking the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday. The President added that interfactional leaders were pursuing “reasonable and measured policies” to achieve “legitimate rights” for the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. "We are proud to be conducting a legal and diplomatic war to insulate Israeli policies and attain our legitimate rights," Abbas said. "International condemnation alone is no longer enough in the face of Israel's hostile policies towards our people.” Addressing the economic crisis currently gripping the Palestinian Authority, Abbas expressed hopes that other countries would follow Saudi Arabia’s lead in supporting the Palestinian people with financial aid. "Our Arab brothers have set a precedent for the defence of the Holy City and allocated funds to support its people in their struggle,” Abbas said. However, the President added: “We are yet to receive anything.”