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Hussein Sheikh, secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, confirmed today, Thursday, that Israel has not yet officially announced that it welcomes the ceasefire plan proposed by the US President, indicating that Israel is not considering withdrawing its troops from Gaza at all.
“Hamas expressed preliminary approval, but Israel did not express any approval in this regard,” Sheikh said in an interview with Al Arabiya/Hadash newspaper, noting that there was a unified political vision with Arab countries and we sent it to Washington.
Sheikh explained that Israel’s actions in Gaza confirm that it has no intention of withdrawing from the Gaza Strip at all, which shows that Israel is trying to impose a fait accompli in the Palestinian strip and wants to stay there.
He also said the Palestinian Authority’s relations with Arab countries are the best.
Return to Rafah border crossing
As for the Rafah crossing, Sheikh stressed that the return to the crossing with Egypt would be subject to Hamas’s agreement, adding that “the PLO must return to Gaza, otherwise it will be a civil war.”
He went on to say that the United States and Israel offered to return authority over the Rafah crossing, but the authorities rejected it, indicating that the return would not be conditional on Israel’s terms.
Sheikh said any attempt to establish alternative institutions for Palestinian legitimacy in Gaza would be rejected.
Palestinian officials have confirmed that Israel has created a two-kilometer-deep buffer zone in the Gaza Strip and wants to split the Strip in two, dividing it north and south.
Disagreements between the Authority and Hamas
He also said that “differences remain between the Authority and Hamas on a number of political and administrative issues,” but stressed that they are determined to continue dialogue with the movement and that communication with them is open.
He added that “Hamas must announce its position on the conditions for joining the PLO.”
He continued, “The priority now is the stability of Palestinians on their land and preventing displacement,” noting that the Palestinian Authority is working to agree on priorities with Hamas.
He also said that the term “power reforms”, as he put it, was being used to kill national projects.
The collapse of the Palestinian Authority
Furthermore, Hussein Sheikh said Israel wants to interfere with the spending of PA funds, suggesting that Tel Aviv is trying to impose conditions on the PA in exchange for the return of Palestinian funds.
He continued, “Israel’s actions will undoubtedly lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority.”
He also said Israel was withholding 100 percent of the PA’s funds, adding that Washington was aware of the PA’s difficult financial situation.
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