Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, downplayed US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice\\\’s visit to the region on Friday, calling it ‘unimportant’.
Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, downplayed US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice\\\’s visit to the region on Friday, calling it ‘unimportant’.
In a press briefing in the Sahti refugee camp west of Gaza City, the Palestinian PM stressed that any interference into internal affairs is unaccepted by the Palestinian people, therefore any unity government should come in accordance with the Palestinians’ own agenda and not the American dictations.
The Palestinian Prime Minister voiced the hope that the dialogue on a national unity government would eventually reach an agreement on the basis of the Palestinian prisoners’ conciliation document.
Haniya’s remarks came ahead of Rice’s visit on Friday to the Palestinian territories, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in a bid to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
Media sources said that Rice holds no new ideas and that she is going to exchange thoughts in light of the Baker-Hamelton report, which called for the settlement of the Palestinian question as a basis for a solution to other regional concerns.
The US Secretary is first expected to hold meetings with Israeli officials on Saturday, then with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday.
Since January 2006 Washington has been boycotting the Hamas-led government, demanding such a government to meet three demands; recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and accepting signed peace agreements.
