It is time for Palestinian unity: Palestinian president

CAIRO – 24 July 2017: “Now there is a true opportunity to achieve national unity among all Palestinian factions and it is time to convene the Palestinian National Council and the Palestinian Central Council. This issue is of high priority,” said the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday during a meeting in Ramallah with participating scientists at the Second National Forum of Scholars in Palestine, organized by the Palestinian Supreme Council for Creativity and Excellence.

Regarding Hamas, the president said "we have frankly told them to refrain from the government that they have formed to control the Gaza Strip in order to allow the national consensus government to carry out its tasks, and to agree to holding the presidential and legislative elections. It is now in their hands and from our side we will retract the measures that we have taken with respect to the budget we provide to the Gaza Strip and will return it as it was in the past,” according to Maan News.

Abbas added “we are now working to the utmost of our efforts in all directions on the level of the national unity and our international relations as well as our relation with Israel.” The United Security Council, the Arab League Council and the Organization of Islamic cooperation will meet to discuss the situation in Jerusalem.

Earlier on Friday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the suspension of all official contact with Israel until it removed all new security measures at Al-Aqsa mosque. Ongoing protests against the Israeli security measures, including the installation of metal detectors at the entrances of Al-Aqsa, are taking place in the Palestinian Occupied West Bank, Jersualem, and Gaza.

"I declare the suspension of all contacts with the Israeli side on all levels until it cancels its measures at Al-Aqsa mosque and preserves the status quo," Abbas said in a brief televised speech on Friday.