By Xinhua
Gaza : Islamic Hamas movement on Saturday slammed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ speech before the UN General Assembly as “factional and provoking.”
“Basically, it is a factional and provoking address,” Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told reporters in Gaza. “It incites against Hamas movement and some neighboring countries.”
In his Friday speech, Abbas said “the voice of peace and faith continues to be stronger than any other voice in our country,” referring to Hamas which opposes his recent meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Abbas also said that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was fully committed to the U.S.-sponsored international peace conference that will be held in November, adding there were no obstacles to holding it.
Taha said that Abbas’ sudden optimism over the conference was strange though he had often talked about demands and conditions to make the conference successful.
“The President still counts on the November conference and begs the international community for the conference success though it is clear the meeting is dead before it starts,” Taha said.
“It is also clear that the Zionist enemy will not offer anything during the conference because Olmert said the meeting will come up with a joint statement without offering any initiative for solution.”
U.S. President George W. Bush called for holding the meeting after Hamas took control of Gaza Strip and ousted Abbas’ forces.
The Palestinian president fired a Hamas-led coalition and, instead, resorted to enhancing the peace process by stepping up meetings with Olmert.
The two sides are expected to hold another meeting by the beginning of October amid wide criticism from the Palestinian factions.
In a statement sent to the press, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the No. 2 faction of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), said holding such meetings while the Israeli aggression was going on was “unreasonable.”
The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement also slammed the upcoming meeting, saying “it gives Israel justification to continue attacks against the Palestinian people.”