Palestinian factions to discuss crisis

Abbas calls for conference of all factions to deal with international isolation.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
abbas 298.88 ap (photo credit: AP [file])
abbas 298.88 ap
(photo credit: AP [file])
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called a conference of all the Palestinian factions for next week in order to find a solution to the financial crisis caused by the cessation of international donations following Hamas's election victory in January. Invitees to the conference include senior government officials, city mayors and leading business figures. Meanwhile, the London-based a-Sharq al-Awsat reported on Saturday that Hamas leaders were discussing new policy plans in an attempt to remove the international isolation. According to the report, several of the movement's members, including lawmakers and those still in Israeli prisons, were convinced that Hamas should officially accept the principles of the Saudi peace plan, presented at the Arab summit in Beirut in 2000. The plan includes the Palestinian recognition of Israel in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal to the Green Line, the ceasefire line between Israel and Jordan from 1949 to 1967. It also calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem and an unspecified solution to the Palestinian refugee problem. Several Arab states, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, were pressuring Hamas to accept the plan.