CAIRO: “Israeli and American forces are trying to prevent Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from signing the Fatah-Hamas agreement because Fatah chose union with Hamas rather than union with Israel,” said Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chairman of Hamas' political bureau, in an interview with Youm7. “Hamas is optimistic about Palestinian resolution because the situation has changed completely,” Abu Marzouk said. He said relations between Hamas and the new Egyptian administration are different from previous relations. He said the change is not related to the Muslim Brotherhood's (MB) legitimacy in Egypt because the MB is an internal affair. Although Hamas joined the international MB, Abu Marzouk said the decision is about Palestine's movement for libration and that no international or regional Brotherhood policy will change the aim of Palestinians: gaining independence. In the past Egypt has supported the Palestinian case and tried to compromise, but did not allow Hamas to take power in the Gaza strip. Abou Marzouk said Palestinian reconciliation has consistently failed because certain figures complied with America and Israel's demands. Now, he believes the MidEast situation has changed. “It is not likely for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel to compromise and there is no cooperation between them. Regarding the settlement, the U.S. administration forced Abbas to climb a tree then pulled the ladder from underneath his feet so he cannot climb back down,” Abu Marzouk added. “Obstacles forced Abbas to ignore Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or anyone else about reconciliation, a significant matter to all Palestinians.” According to Abu Marzouk, Abbas will bypass all difficulties and the reconciliation will be accomplished. All parties have good faith in achieving a successful reconciliation, he said. Around 90 percent of security preparations and election files are complete for upcoming Palestinian elections and the details of Egyptian documents for Palestinian reconciliation have been agreed upon, he said. “There are no new discussions between Palestinian factions and independent figures. Most of the documents of liberation organizations and Palestinian merits of honor are almost complete,” Abu Marzouk said. “Hamas leaders have no intention to leave Damascus. As for Gaza, they would go back because it is their home land,” Abu Marzouk said when asked whether Hamas will return home after signing the reconciliation. “There should be a national, regional, and international understanding regardless of whoever wins in upcoming Palestinian elections and we are seeking for honest elections,” Abu Marzouk added. It is impossible to predict what will happen next, but undoubtedly Israel is worried about international acknowledgement of a Palestinian state. For Israel, the fact that final solutions were reached without the use of violence does not help, according to Abu Marzouk. Abu Marzouk said Hamas was attacked by the regime of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Hamas was blamed for the explosion of the Israel-Egypt gas pipeline during the January 25 Revolution and for the New Year's bombing at Two Saint's church in Alexandria which killed 23 people. However, further investigation has turned the blame for the Church bombing to Egypt's former minister of interior, Habib al-Adly. “Egypt is convinced that Hamas is not a threat, both sides have no agreement on closing the Rafah crossing,” he added. “Closing Rafah would be an inhumane action because it is unfair to voters if they were not able to cross.” Abu Marzouk said keeping the crossing between Egypt and Gaza open is legal. The border-crossing agreement between Israel and the PA was signed and agreed upon for a year and then reduced to only six months. The crossing is now an Egyptian-Palestinian matter, in which Israel has no say. Egyptian and Palestinian authorities discussed the problems the Palestinians might encounter while crossing the border, he added. “Syrian people also have their aspirations, which should be achieved; not only Syria but all countries of the Middle East,” Abu Marzouk concluded. He specifically praised the Egyptian January 25 Revolution, which catalyzed the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation case.
