By NNN-KUNA
Washington : Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called on Monday for a national consensus with Hamas on a security doctrine.
Delivering a policy speech in the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP), Fayyad said that political differences between the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas could be “sorted out” once both sides reach this consensus and agree on a security doctrine and the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority.
Fayyad noted that expressing desire to establish a Palestinian state is not enough anymore and the focus should be on “the nature and criteria of this state”, adding that a Palestinian state requires a parallel progress on issues of governance, security, economy and politics.
During his three day visit to Washington, the Palestinian Prime Minister will meet with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, White House National Security Advisor Steven Hadley and the Appropriations and Foreign Relations Committee in Congress.
“We should not allow to destructive actions done by few to double the suffering and lack of security faced by the Palestinians under occupation”, added Fayyad in his speech noting that security is “a Palestinian need as it is an Israeli need”.
He criticized the Israeli blockade on the Gaza strip arguing that all blockade policies are doomed to failure and would only lead to further Palestinian suffering and expressed again the readiness of the Palestinian Authority to regulate Gaza borders.
Fayyad also condemned Israeli military operations on Gaza and the launch of rockets from the strip to Israel.
He described in his speech the plan of his government as “the most progressive in the region”, while listing its accomplishments in economic reforms and noted that achieving security is easier if is coupled with “economic improvements”.
A State Department official, who spoke to KUNA on condition of anonymity, said that Rice would discuss in her meeting with Fayyad later today “a broad range of bilateral issues including progress in the Middle East peace process and efforts to bolster security and prosperity in the region”.
“President Bush and Secretary Rice have pledged the unwavering commitment of the United States to assist the parties to reach their goal of a peace agreement in 2008 and we will continue to provide significant support to that end”, added the State Department official.
On the sideline of Fayyads visit, USAID Administrator and Director of Foreign Assistance Henrietta H. Fore held a press briefing today on US-Palestinian Partnership and the activities it is overseeing in the Palestinian territories.
The State Department described this new initiative as an “economic opportunity for the Palestinian people, with a special focus on opportunities for Palestinian youth”.
Last time Fayyad visited Washington was April 2007 in his capacity as Finance Minister on the sidelines of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (IMF).