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07:58, July 09, 2007 |
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday called for unity among the Palestinian people and urged them to put their differences aside, the official Emirates News Agency reported.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan expressed his country's stance when meeting visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Abu Dhabi Sunday afternoon.
During the meeting, Sheikh Khalifa reiterated UAE's support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority.
The UAE President also urged the international community to activate the Mideast peace process on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative which would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Abbas expressed his appreciation of the UAE for its continuous support for the Palestinians in various areas.
Abbas arrived in the UAE Saturday night after winding up a short visit to Jordan where he discussed with some Arab lawmakers on the prospect of starting talks between Fatah and Hamas factions.
Hamas militants overran members of Fatah led by Abbas and took control of the Gaza Strip last month, during which at least 100 Palestinians were killed.
In a response, Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led unity government which took office on March 17, and sworn in an emergency government in the West Bank, which Hamas denounced as "illegitimate."
Abbas also outlawed Hamas' armed group and the Executive Forces and refused to hold any dialogue with Hamas.
But the UAE, a member state of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, has called on rival Palestinian factions to resume dialogue.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said on Saturday that the Islamic movement welcomed any internal or foreign efforts to narrow gaps between it and Fatah to secure the resumption of talks.
Source: Xinhua
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