Palestinian PM Haniya: no return to the situation prior to June2007

Sunday September 21, 2008 00:47 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, stressed on Saturday that Gaza won't return to the situation prior to June14,2007.

Palestinian Prime Minister of Hamas, Ismail Haniya

" We would like to say to all people that there will be no return to the situation prior to the June14, 2007. That period is now a part of history and our Palestinian people can never reverse history", premier Haniya was quoted as saying during a meeting with police officers in Gaza city.

Haniya had a breakfast, after a fasting day of Ramadan, jointly with his interior minister, Said Siyam, justice minister, Ahmad Shwaideh, transportation minister, Yousef Almansi as well as several police ranks at the police headquarters in Gaza city.

A part of his visit to the police compound, the Islamist prime minister, led a special Ramadan prayer ' Taraweeh' and delivered a speech before worshipers and security personnel, a press release, received by IMEMC, read.

" Since the election victory of the Islamist movement in Palestine in 2006, we have encountered a series of dangerous conspiracies, yet with the help of God, we have made a new history, based on the holy Quran and the hierarchy of prophet Mohammad", the PM maintained.

He praised what he termed achievements of the security establishment under the Islamic rule in Gaza, saying that despite a great deal of conspiracies, led by the Americans and the Israelis, security and order could have prevailed and that the residents now enjoy the supremacy of law.

Such remarks by the Palestinian PM come on the heels of a series of security measures in Gaza that have recently reined in internal violence, mainly tribal influence.

The Hamas-led government in Gaza has been outlawed by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah following Hamas's seizure of the coastal territory in June14, 2007 amidst factional fighting with Fatah.

Since then, Abbas has been demanding the democratically-elected Hamas party to renounce control over Gaza before dialogue is commenced.

Currently, Cairo is engaged in a serious dialogue with Palestinian factions including the rival Fatah and Hamas for a renewed national unity.

gaza strip | palestinian politics | news report rami at imemc dot org