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Mashaal: Russia, unlike the U.S. seeks Palestinian unity | Research | News |

arrived in Moscow today, the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Khaled Meshaal. Now the Israeli occupation authorities declared the movement headed by Mashaal “terrorist” and forbid him to enter Palestine. Russia did not agree with that assessment and insisted on the need to negotiate with all the Palestinians, seeking to build an independent state.

On the eve of his arrival in Moscow, the Palestinian leader responded to questions browser “Time News” Helena Suponina. According to him, one of the main reasons for his visit to Moscow was freezing process in the Middle East settlement. “Middle East peace process is frozen. Danger is the fact that power in Israel is a triple radicals: Netanyahu, Lieberman and Barak (Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister – Ed.). After all, they not only violate the rights of Palestinians, but even ignoring the requirements of the Americans. United States, for example, has long been sought by Israel freeze construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied territories. And to no avail! Another topic of negotiations will be a process of reconciliation between the Palestinians themselves “, – said Meshaal, speaking of his visit to the Palestinian delegation to Moscow.

– Moscow intends to hold in late February meeting Quartet of mediators in the Middle East settlement. It will be attended by senior representatives of Russia, EU, U.S. and UN. But often at these meetings and invited the participants of the conflict, and mediators from Arab countries. Do you consider it necessary to attend such a meeting?

– This is too early to tell. We have not yet been invited to a meeting of the quartet. Let us hold first talks in Moscow to discuss everything and understand what this meeting.

– Russia would be very happy if the Palestinians made peace with each other. After the split in Palestinian ranks prevents the primary objective – the creation of the State of Palestine. There are rumors that you arrange with the head of the Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Arab League summit to be held in March in Libya. Is this true?

– For our part we are doing everything possible to reconciliation had taken place as soon as possible. We started working on this back in 2007. But this was followed by Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip (started in late 2008 and continued in January 2009 – Ed.). After the war on Palestinian reconciliation talks resumed in Cairo (Egypt is the most active mediator between the Palestinians – Ed.). But now once again experienced a temporary pause. Tom two reasons.

The first – the American veto on the process of reconciliation. We know that the American president’s special envoy in the Middle East, George Mitchell assisted in recent years the pressure on Mr Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian officials. The idea was that if Mahmoud Abbas will go to reconciliation with us, the United States will cease to provide assistance to the Palestinian Authority. What I’m telling you, this is not simply an analysis of the political situation, but in reality the information we collect. So U.S. intervention proved to be negative, and slowed the process of reconciliation.

The second reason relates to the clarification of the text of the agreement on reconciliation, prepared with the participation of Egypt. There were items that have changed without our consent or disappeared altogether. As one of the parties to this agreement, we insist that the text has been verified and consistent with those agreements, we have achieved as a result of many months of talks with other Palestinian movements, in particular with Fatah (Movement of the Liberation of Palestine, whose leader is Mahmoud Abbas — Ed.).

If we can overcome these two major obstacles, the path to reconciliation in the ranks of the Palestinians will be open. We want this to happen before the meeting of Arab leaders in Libya. If you do not have time before this, then this objective can quite easily be achieved in the negotiations at the summit.

– So you are ready to meet with Mahmoud Abbas?

– Since he himself refuses!

– He said in an interview with an Arab newspaper is ready to meet, but only after you put your signature on the agreement of reconciliation between Palestinians. What do you say?

– We all the time to walk in a circle. There is the text of the agreement, which needs to be clarified. This is a normal requirement of any party in the negotiations: to agree the final text. And that we achieve that we have signed the agreement in its present form, and, they say, then held a meeting. This approach, in truth, is unacceptable.

– What are the points you raise an objection?

– In the early to talk about everything in detail. But you will give two examples. One of the points says about the Palestine Liberation Organization (the Islamists until it does not include, the main role played by the PLO, Fatah and other movements – Ed.). We have already been agreed in previous consultations that will be created one temporary leadership of this organization, which unites all Palestinians. It will run until the elections take place until the new governing bodies of the PLO. This interim guidance should consist of leaders of various movements, members of the PLO leadership, independent representatives. At the head of the organization, as we agreed back in 2005 in Cairo, Mahmoud Abbas, will rise.

We prescribed tasks interim leadership, and highlighted in writing, that they are not subject to change. And suddenly some inexplicable way a postscript that “it is not subject to change” – gone! There was no explanation! But she was in the original text. Why removed? This suggests that someone wants to change the challenges posed by management, and reduced them to another level.

Another example – to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in Palestine . Specifically – on electoral commissions. Because now the Palestinians are split, then such commission should be formed on the basis of agreements between all the movements. The original text stated that at first we all agree, and the head of the Palestinian National Authority is based on these commitments will issue a decree on the formation of electoral commissions. The new version also states that the head of the administration makes a decision based on consultations with other movements. And this is a big difference. It is one thing – the obligation to implement the agreements, and another thing – just listen or not to consult. These are the issues preventing Palestinians unite.

– I understand you correctly: Russians are in favor of the unity of the Palestinians, while Americans are against this?

– Of course it is. Russia seeks unity in Palestinian ranks. But Americans do not care. They do not care whether the Palestinians are split or merged. They are important to someone from the Palestinians reached an agreement with the Israelis. They need to bring pressure to bear at least part of the Palestinians that they have made concessions to the Israelis. Perhaps the U.S. even consider splitting itself into the hands of the Palestinians to further pressure on the Palestinian National Authority. The Americans have failed to soften the position of the Israelis, and therefore will now seek greater concessions from the Palestinians. So what is the difference in the U.S. position in Russia – a big.

– There is much speculation about the mysterious death in the United Arab Emirates in January, one of the leaders of your movement – Mahmoud al -Mabhouh. It is said that he was killed by Israelis. Do you have any information on this subject?

– We have no doubt that our brother, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh – May Allah bless his soul – was killed by the Israeli secret service Mossad. This happened in the city of Dubai in the Emirates. Local police have made an autopsy and concluded that he was strangled. This is official information. Israelis are not the first time killing our people.

– Yes, and you once nearly killed. In 1997, in Amman, Israeli agents injected poison in your ear. You saved the arrest of the assailants, after which the Israelis at the insistence of the authorities of Jordan delivered an antidote …

– Yes, it is. I have been subjected to such an attack. So we know with whom we deal.