PPP head calls for national unity, no return to negotiations

[Jefferson23]

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The sceretary-general of the leftist Palestinian people's Party on Friday said that all efforts need to be taken to preserve Palestinian national unity and ensure no return to negotiations with Israel outside of the Gaza framework.

PPP leader Bassam al-Salhi told Ma'an that preserving national unity is especially important following the Israeli offensive on Gaza and the daunting task of rebuilding facing Gazans.

Al-Salhi also condemned any attempts to return to negotiations with Israel -- outside of the Egyptian-sponsored Gaza ceasefire framework -- as "useless" and said they would not result in "anything new" for Palestinians.

He said that that the "only option" for Palestinians is to go to the United Nations Security Council and institutions to end the Israeli occupation and not return to negotiations, adding that negotiations with Israel only provide Israel an excuse to "stall."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=727030

[Jefferson23]

1. Dahlan calls for Palestinian govt center to be moved to Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Former Fatah leader Muhammad Dahlan on Friday called for the center of the Palestinian presidency and government to be moved to the Gaza Strip in order to aid national reconciliation.

Dahlan said in a statement that "Gaza's wounds will not heal through trading political and media accusations. Our people hoped and still hope for a different action after their heroic fight against the Israeli offensive."

He added that "by renewing the atmospheres of division we are wasting time, resources, and the Arab and international attitudes that insist on rebuilding Gaza and providing the minimum requirements for human life for some two million Palestinians."

A former security chief in the Gaza Strip under Fatah, Dahlan fled the West Bank after his ouster from the party in 2011, after which security forces raided his home.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=727044

[oberliner]

2. The PPP is a fringe party with virtually no support among Palestinians

Even as part of a joint list with a group of other leftist parties they failed to receive even 3 percent of the vote.

[Jefferson23]

3. They have a right to speak out. n/t

[Scootaloo]

4. How'd that landslide victory for kadima go again, Oberliner?

Hey, who knows. Hamas is acting an ass, Abbas is being the pearlfish to Netanyahu's sea cucumber (look it up), so these "third parties" are probably seeing a chance to shine in comparison.