T. Belman. I don’t understand this one bit. On the one hand they are trying to destroy UNRWA and the PA and on the other hand they are becoming more dependant on them.
White House envoy supports Egypt’s efforts for ceasefire, says Palestinian Authority “cannot criticize from the sidelines.”
In a statement, Greenblatt also said that the Palestinian Authority (PA) should assume responsibilities in Gaza.
“The Trump administration strongly supports the efforts of President Al-Sisi and the Egyptian government ?to help facilitate an agreement to restore calm in Gaza and bring about the conditions for the Palestinian Authority to fully assume its responsibilities in Gaza,” he said.
“The Palestinian Authority cannot criticize from the sidelines. The Palestinian Authority should be part of the solution for the Palestinians of Gaza and Palestinians as a whole. If not, others will fill that void,” continued Greenblatt.
“Leadership is about making hard choices. The people of Gaza, and Israelis in the area around Gaza, have suffered for far too long. It is time for the Palestinian Authority to lead the Palestinian people – all Palestinians – to a better future,” concluded the statement.
Egypt for several weeks has been mediating talks on a long-term ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
Senior Hamas officials recently claimed that negotiations have made significant progress, and that a ceasefire is expected to be reached following the Eid al-Adha holiday.
In addition to the ceasefire efforts with Israel, Egypt has been trying to achieve reconciliation between Hamas and the Fatah faction, headed by PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
The sides have been at odds since 2007, when Hamas violently took control of Gaza in a bloody coup. A unity government between Hamas and Fatah collapsed in 2015 when Abbas decided to dissolve it amid a deepening rift between the sides.
In October 2017, Hamas and the PA signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo, under which the PA was to resume full control of Gaza by December 1. However, the deal never completely implemented due what was described as “obstacles.”
Two weeks ago, Greenblatt commended Egypt, Israel and the UN’s Middle East envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, “for their roles in an effort to end the violence and terror in the Gaza area. Much can be achieved for all people in the region through honest talk and meaningful action.”
“Terror and violence have held back the Palestinians of Gaza for too long and will NEVER succeed. There can be a better future; it is time to embrace it,” he added.
Earlier this week, Abbas reportedly expressed outrage that a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel was being formulated without his participation and said, “Over my dead body will there be a ceasefire and agreement for calm between the sides.”
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