A Fatah official in Gaza said his movement has so far resolved many problems and weaknesses and was now ready to engage in any possible Palestinian elections in the near future.
Ahmed Halas (Abou Maher), member of Fatah central committee and general commissioner for mobilization in Gaza, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the agreement over the holding of general elections would be discussed between Fatah and other factions during an expected meeting in the Egyptian capital on Nov. 21.
According to Halas, the meeting would touch on issues related to Palestinian public affairs, including the elections and the formation of a national unity government.
“The current national consensus government will continue to assume its role until an agreement is reached to form a government or to go to legislative elections,” he said.
Asked about his movement’s readiness to participate in the elections, Halas stressed that Fatah was ready to run for the elections in Gaza, the West Bank and all the Palestinian territories, adding: “Fatah has regained its popularity and succeeded in reaching the minds of the Palestinian people.”
The official, who took part in the recent reconciliation understandings in Cairo, said that a bilateral meeting would be held on the first of December between Fatah and Hamas leaders and would focus on evaluating the process of handing over the Gaza Strip to the national consensus government.
Responding to a question about a possible visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Gaza, Halas said the issue was related to the process of reconciliation, which he hoped would be completed soon.
He noted that Fatah would hold a national ceremony on Saturday to commemorate the passing of 13 years since the death of President Yasser Arafat, stressing that the ceremony would be a national day par excellence.
“I think everyone wants to invest this occasion to show Palestinian unity”, he stated.
Halas noted however, that some parties, which he declined to name, wanted reconciliation to fail.
“We know that there are those who want the Palestinian reconciliation to succeed, and those who are afraid of such reconciliation, because they want the Palestinian people to remain divided,” he said.
