Iran hails Palestinian Fatah-Hamas unity deal

Iran hails Palestinian Fatah-Hamas unity deal
Sat Apr 26, 2014 18:52:17

Iran has hailed a recent reconciliation agreement between Hamas resistance movement and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

“The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes solidarity among Palestinian groups against the Zionist regime [of Israel], as well as any kind of national reconciliation which results in Palestinian unity,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Saturday.

Tehran backs any measure aimed at realizing the valuable goals of the Palestinian nation and contributing to the anti-Israel campaign, Afkham added.

On April 23, Hamas and the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority reached a reconciliation agreement after two days of intense discussions, pledging to end differences and form a unity government.

Under the long-awaited deal, the rival Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah are to form a unity government within five weeks and hold national elections six months later.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has said the new agreement mainly focuses on implementing previous reconciliation deals reached in Cairo in 2011 and Doha in 2012.

The Israeli regime and its staunch supporter, the US, have reacted angrily to the deal.

State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said on Wednesday that Washington is "disappointed" by the reconciliation agreement, adding it could "seriously" complicate the so-called peace talks.

The Israeli regime also cancelled the so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.

Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas has said the deal does not contradict the negotiations the Palestinian Authority is pursuing with Israel.

RA/MB

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