Fatah accuses Hamas seeks ceasefire with Israel to attack PNA

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party on Saturday accused Hamas of seeking calm with Israel to attack the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank.

Recent statements by Hamas officials saying that they are not interested in escalation in Gaza "is like asking a permission from the Israeli government and army to start attacking the PNA's leaders in the West Bank," Fatah said in a statement.

On Friday and Saturday, Hamas leaders in Gaza said they will remain committed to the fragile ceasefire agreement reached by Israel and Hamas after the end of Israel's three-week offensive on Gaza in January 2009.

"Hamas calls on its armed cells to promote chaos and kill the Palestinian citizens in the West Bank," the Fatah statement said.

The statement stressed that Fatah will not allow Hamas to fight the PNA and seize the West Bank by force "as what happened in Gaza " a year after Hamas won the parliamentary elections.

However, Fatah said it will work "to bring Gaza back to legitimacy and the authority of law and order."

On Friday, Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, told demonstrators that his movement will not be tolerant with the PNA and its security services in the West Bank.

President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday urged Hamas to sign an Egyptian proposal for national reconciliation, saying a united government of independents can be formed after the reconciliation.

Source: Xinhua