Hamdallah: 'Gaza is a symbol of steadfastness'

[Jefferson23]

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A delegation of West Bank officials arrived in the Gaza Strip on Thursday for the first meeting of the Palestinian unity government.

Speaking to reporters upon arrival, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said the rivalry between Fatah and Hamas was history.

"Feelings come together as I stand on the land of the Gaza Strip. Gaza is a symbol of steadfastness and dignity, and a protector and custodian of rights and history."

The major goal of the unity government is to end the rivalry between the West Bank and Gaza, Hamdallah added.

"We will go ahead united to protect Gaza and will never agree to separate Gaza and segregate its residents."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=732198

[Jefferson23]

1. PA struggles to gain foothold in Gaza

Beneath the hostile rhetoric, Israel, PA and Hamas are quietly working to keep the status quo.

Gregg Carlstrom and Dalia Hatuqa Last updated: 09 Oct 2014

West Bank - At first glance, it was an angry, even hostile speech: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas took to the podium at the United Nations, accused Israel of genocide and vowed to seek a deadline for ending the occupation.

While his language was striking, his 30-minute address was short on details: no explicit mention of the Palestinians joining the International Criminal Court (ICC), no time frame for a Palestinian state or even submitting a resolution to that effect. It was a series of empty threats, suggesting that the PA is reluctant to take any meaningful steps.

The one subject he did discuss at length was the reconstruction of Gaza - ending the blockade, a donors conference in Cairo due on October 12. Gaza had suffered through three wars in six years, he said, and the cycle needed to stop: "And now, where do we go from here?"


After a tumultuous summer, Abbas could also ask that question about himself. Five months ago he inked a unity pact with Hamas, a move condemned by the Israeli government, but also boosted his domestic popularity and diplomatic position.

By September, that situation was almost entirely reversed. The war brought renewed popular support for Hamas, which, earlier this year, was beleaguered and nearly bankrupt. Abbas was sidelined, reduced to a hapless observer while thousands of Palestinians were killed, and his patrons in Jerusalem and Washington were left searching for a way to salvage his position.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/10/pa-struggles-gain-foothold-gaza-20141095264534228.html