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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Mashal meets with Syrian president |
| 2010-01-10 |
| [Ma'an] A Hamas delegation headed by the Islamist movement's senior most leader Khalid Mash'al met with Syrian President Bashir Al-Asad in Damascus on Saturday to discuss the status of the occupied Palestinian territories. The meeting tackled the latest developments in the Palestinian territories as reconciliation efforts between rival factions Hamas and Fatah reached an impasse, according to Hamas official Izzat Ar-Rashq. The conveners also addressed continuous Israeli assaults, settlement activity, plans to Judaize Jerusalem and divide the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in addition to the ongoing crippling siege on the Gaza Strip. The Syrian president was briefed on the reasons for stalemate in the reconciliation process and the amendments Hamas would like addressed before signing the Egyptian-sponsored document. Ar-Rashq pointed out that the Hamas delegation updated Al-Asad on the reasons which led to the stalemate in reconciliation efforts, and the amendments Hamas wanted addressed before signing the Egyptian-sponsored document. Al-Asad reaffirmed his concern for Palestinian reconciliation, asserting that he will support any effort that will lead to an agreement between Palestinian factions, according to the Syrian News Agency. The Syrian president reiterated that Palestinian unity would be the only means to restoring Palestinian rights and face the challenges they are confronted with. The meeting held between the Hamas delegation and Hamas officials was undertaken as part of a tour of Arab, Muslim and foreign countries in order to "crystallize a national relief strategy to face the failure of Palestinian reconciliation efforts," Ar-Rashq said. Additionally, the tour will aim at finding solutions to "the extremist Israeli government led by Netanyahu and his foreign minister Lieberman," he said. The Hamas delegation has also visited Yemen, Libya, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. |
| Posted by:Fred |