Doha Declaration a "Major Triumph" for Qatari Diplomacy, Experts Say

Doha , February 07 (QNA) - The Doha declaration signed between the two main Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas should be considered as a "major triumph for the Qatari diplomacy", a number of Palestinian and Arab political experts said Tuesday. They said that that Qatari diplomacy succeeded "Strenuous efforts" to bring the Palestinian people back together. They expressed their thanks to the State of Qatar under the wise leadership of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, for supporting the palestinian reconciliation. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) Tuesday , the Palestinian and Arab political experts said that the signing between Hamas and Fatah came after a calm but perseverant effort from Qatar's leadership. Ambassador Mohammed Sobaih, Arab League's Secretary-General for the Palestinian and Arab Occupied Territories Affairs, welcomed the deal saying that it's a significant step forward on the way for a national Palestinian reconciliation. Speaking exclusively to QNA, Sobaih praised the State of Qatar for bringing the negotiating parties back to the table and signing the declaration. He noted that the efforts for reconciliation had stalled after the accord was first signed in Cairo on May 4th, until Qatar intervened to bring the reconciliation deal back on track. He stressed however that the responsibility now falls on the Palestinian parties involved to put the Palestinian issue above all else. Sobaih also thanked the State of Qatar for the role it played, saying that it aids the Arab League's efforts in Palestinian reconciliation and warned however that the next stage would be dangerous, adding that partition and division among the different Palestinian groups will be very harmful to the Palestinian issues. He said that unity is more essential than ever to face the dangers that face the peace process, the continuation of illegal settling in addition to the displacement of Palestinians. In addition to the "illegal" blockade on Gaza, the Ambassador added. Sobaih said that President Mahmoud Abbas will be keen to For his part, head of the Fatah parliamentary block Azzam Al Ahmed expressed deep thanks to the wise Qatari leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for their "honest" effort in the Palestinian reconciliation, which were repaid with the signing of the Doha agreement. Speaking to QNA, Azzam called on the Palestinian political movements involved to work together to eliminate all challenges in face of implementing the reconciliation. He said that Qatar's leadership has managed to facilitate all the challenges, most importantly forming the reconciliation government. Both Fatah and Hamas movements agreed on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to become the Prime Minister of the new government. He said there is no other challenges in the face of reconciliation. He warned that the declaration will bring the Palestinian people under a lot of pressure from those who don't want the unity deal. However he maintained that the reconciliation deal must not be bargained with and called upon everyone to expect more aggression from Israel in the coming period, in a bid to end such a reconciliation deal. For his part Presidential Spokesman Nabil Abo Rodina said that Doha hosted a "big event" and was keen, through its good relations with Hamas and Fatah, to reach a common ground that ends the difference. He stressed that the Doha Declaration echoes the calls of the Palestinian people. Abo Rodina also called for the immediate implementation of the said declaration in order not to waste any more time. He stressed that the Palestinian efforts will not end until they form an independent Palestinian state on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. Concluding his exclusive interview with QNA, Abo Rodian thanked HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for the effort HH has put for the Palestinian issue. Abo Rodina added that it was not unusual from the brothers in the State of Qatar to give their all efforts for the issue. He also thanked Egypt for the efforts they put in . achieve a reconciliation, saying that the President has put a lot of effort in the positive direction. Al Sobaih stressed that he will discuss the doha declaration with other Palestinian factions to give them a clear picture of what happened. He added that any solution under reconciliation is far better than separation and partition which the Ambassador says only benefits Israel. Commenting on the same event , Palestine's Ambassador in Doha HE Monir Abdullah Ali Ghannam said that the Palestinian people feel a sense of gratitude to the State of Qatar and HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HE Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani for managing to sign a reconciliation deal, months after it was first announced in Cairo. Speaking exclusively to QNA, HE Ghannam said that the Palestinian people feel refreshed and happy after the different Palestinian political movements were united under the reconciliation declaration signed in Doha. He said that the deal will help the Palestinians stand firmer against the Israeli occupation aggression. It will also help the Palestinian people achieve their dream of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, he added. He described the signing of the declaration as a "Qatari-Palestinian celebration" that thrilled the Palestinian people and the Arab world as well adding the reconciliation deal is of the interest to both Palestine and the Arab world in general. At the end of the interview, Ghannam thanked Qatar's wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for their effort in realizing a reconciliation deal and a reconciliation government. Spokesman for the deposed Hamas government Ismail Al Nono said that deposed Prime Minister Ismael Haniya who concluded a few days' visit to qatar of late, has welcomed the declaration and stressed that the government and he himself, are ready to implement it. Al Nono said that Hamas' position has always been in favor of the reconciliation deal, ever since it was announced in Cairo back in May 4th. The Spokesman expressed hope that the steps of the reconciliation would be implemented on the ground. Specialist in the Palestinian issue Salah Joma'a also spoke exclusively to QNA on the occasion and said that signing the doha declaration is considered a significant step forward that was brought under the guidance of the State of Qatar, which does not conflict with the Egyptian role played earlier in the reconciliation deal. He said that even though the Palestinian presidential elections were set to be held in May 2012, he expects the date to be pushed back a little. Joma'a stressed that the Doha declaration will turn the page on a sad chapter of the Palestinian issue which saw the political movements separate. Salah Joma'a further said that choosing Abbas as Prime Minister does not conflict with the agreement signed in Cairo, which stated that the new Prime Minister be independent. Joma'a said that the declaration also stated that the Prime Minister must be agreed upon by both Fatah and Hamas movements, which was the case with Abbas' selection. Elaborating he said that he is confident that both Abbas and Mashaal will place the benefit of the Palestinian people above any other considerations. He said that there will be new meetings to be held in Cairo, concerned with forming committees that will follow the implementation of the Doha declaration on the ground. (QNA)