Palestinian official urges Hamas to change gov't platform to avoid isolation

Palestinian president's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh on Sunday urged the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which is to reveal a new government, to change its government platform in a bid to avoid isolation.

Abu Rudeineh, who was accompanying President Mahmoud Abbas on his tour at the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border on Sunday, told reporters that Hamas' government platform, which has been submitted to Abbas, should be based on related international and Arab resolutions, which espouse a two-state solution to the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Hinting that Abbas would approve the new cabinet to be presented to him by Hamas later on Sunday, Abu Rudeineh urged Hamas to adopt changes so as to avoid isolation.

"We don't want to obstruct Hamas' way, nor do we want to see Hamas in a crisis. President Abbas will give the chance it deserves, but it should know that the Palestinian people are unable to bear the Arab and international isolation," he said.

"The Palestinian people will not accept giving excuses for the Israeli government to break away from its commitments," he added.

The senior Palestinian official also warned that if Hamas continued with the same method it used in the past, it would " throw itself, the cabinet and the people into world's isolation."

Meanwhile, Abu Rudeineh also urged Israel to re-open the key Karni commercial crossing on the eastern Gaza border to allow goods flow, warning against a possible humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip due to exacerbating food shortage.

Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, is expected to present a new Palestinian cabinet to President Abbas on Sunday evening.

The Quartet of international mediators-- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia-- have threatened to cut off important aid to the already cash-strapped Palestinian government if Hamas does not renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept interim peace deals.

Abbas also urged Hamas to open talks with Israel and abide by previous agreements with Israel.

But Hamas has so far rejected the demands.

Source: Xinhua