WEST BANK: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at stone-laying ceremony for new museum for late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat criticises Hamas's boycott of talks with Fatah

Record ID: 559876

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at stone-laying ceremony for new museum for late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat criticises Hamas's boycott of talks with Fatah
  • Date: 13th November 2008
  • Summary: (MER1) RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 12, 2008 ) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS ARRIVING AT SITE OF MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF FORMER PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT PALESTINIAN FLAGS VARIOUS OF HEAD OF THE MUSEUM, NASSER QUDWA, TALKING TO ABBAS AND OFFICIALS ABBAS UNVEILING PLAQUE FOR ARAFAT MUSEUM PLAQUE'S SIGN READING IN ARABIC "PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS BUILT THE FIRST STONE FOR ARAFAT MUSEUM" VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS LAYING THE FIRST STONES OF THE MUSEUM ABBAS WALKING TOWARD REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS SAYING: "Hamas' decision to boycott the talks surprised everyone and they gave reasons and made conditions that we never heard about before, but we will not despair." WIDE OF ABBAS SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS SAYING: "The Arabs said at the Arab League meetings they will blame the party that obstructs the dialogue, so a meeting of the Arab League will be held to discuss this. Our main aim is to unite the nation and the country, in Gaza and the West Bank. We will achieve maximum effort to achieve this noble objective (of national unity) which our people await impatiently." CAMERAMAN VARIOUS OF ABBAS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 28th November 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAE1UBV09NWR85ZD3DQBTTSIP26
  • Story Text: During the launch of a museum dedicated to the memory of the late President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah on Wednesday (November 12) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed Hamas for the breakdown of reconciliation talks Abbas, Arafat's successor, made his comments after laying the first stone of the building to house the museum.

    "Hamas' decision to boycott the talks surprised everyone and they gave reasons and made conditions that we never heard about before, but we will not despair," Abbas said.
    And he added: "The Arabs said at the Arab League meetings they will blame the party that obstructs the dialogue, so a meeting of the Arab League will be held to discuss this. Our main aim to unite the nation and the country, in Gaza and the West Bank. We will achieve maximum effort to achieve this noble objective (of national unity) which our people await impatiently."
    On Tuesday (November 11) Abbas called for a referendum to resolve a power struggle with Hamas.
    Islamist Hamas said Palestinians can no longer trust Abbas, who heads the secular Fatah movement, as leader.
    Abbas and Hamas have traded blame since reconciliation efforts broke down last week.
    Egypt postponed talks meant to end the rift when Hamas decided to boycott the talks.
    The dispute centres on when to hold elections and on forming a new government that accepts past peace deals with Israel.
    Abbas and the Arabs have proposed holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections in both the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where Fatah holds sway. Abbas argues the law gives him the right to remain in office until 2010.
    But Hamas wants presidential elections on January 9 when it says Abbas' four-year term ends. It says it will no longer recognise Abbas as president after that date.
    Abbas has suggested putting the decision about when to hold elections to the general public.
    Hamas, which won control of the Palestinian parliament in 2006, argues its lawmakers should serve a full four years until 2010.
    Abbas said Hamas had obstructed reconciliation talks. Hamas blamed Abbas for the breakdown.
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