Masha’al renews invitation to meet with Abbas

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Bethlehem – Ma’an – Senior-most Hamas leader Khaled Masha’al on Wednesday renewed his call meet with President Mahmoud Abbas, Saudi media reported.

"My stance remains the same: I am ready to meet [Abu Mazen] to achieve conciliation," In an interview with the Saudi daily newspaper of U’kath.

Abbas had rejected an invitation by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister to host a meeting between Masha’al and the president to discuss the standstill in reconciliation talks, stating that they would not meet until the Egyptian document is ratified by Hamas.

Masha’al said that Hamas still has amendments to the Egyptian-backed reconciliation document, and emphasized that the process should be speeded up to achieve Palestinian goals.

While he told the Saudi daily that he is compelling Egypt to review its construction of an underground steel wall on the Gaza-Egypt border, Masha’al stressed the significance of the role Egypt has played in assisting in restoring Palestinian national unity. “Signing the document will only take place in Cairo, and not in any other Arab capital,” he said.

Hamas and Saudi Arabia

“Saudi Arabia enjoys respect among the international community for placing Palestinian aspirations at the top of its priorities,” Masha’al said, adding that recent transfer of humanitarian aid by Saudi Arabia into the Strip showed the kingdom’s continued support for Palestinians.

The Hamas leader confirmed that Saudi had not called on a meeting to discuss Palestinian national unity,however, Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman, said in a statement that “the movement was not informed of any new Saudi initiative related to Palestinian reconciliation, but Saudi remains dedicated to restoring Palestinian unity.”