| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Islamic Jihad: PA must release our members |
| 2009-09-27 |
| Ma'an -- The Islamic Jihad movement called on the Fatah-backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to release its members from prison as a step toward renewed national unity. This call came as a part of Jihad's official response to Egypt's current proposal for national unity. The issue of political prisoners is a also major point of contention between Fatah and Hamas, which controls Gaza. Islamic Jihad spokesperson Dawoud Shihab said that holding elections is a point of national consensus, and that the only problem will be setting a date. This pronouncement came in spite of Islamic Jihad's traditional rejection of elections. With regard to reform of security services, Shihab said, "it should be built on a professional basis, and the national interests of the people. We are against any foreign agenda." Shihab also argued that Palestinian National Council elections should be separate from Palestinian Legislative Council elections. He also said reform of the PLO must be in accordance with the Cairo Agreement of May 2005. Shihab said the Islamic Jihad will not sign of any agreement that violates the Palestinians' inalienable rights. As a people under occupation, he said, the national project must aim at full liberation. It is also Palestinians' right to resist occupation, he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |