RAMALLAH, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of Fatah party said Friday that the initiative of the Palestinian factions to end internal feuds and achieve reconciliation "is a waste of time."
Hussein al-Sheikh, member of Fatah Central Committee, said in a press statement that "instead of presenting initiatives, division has to be ended and all the reached agreements and understandings have to be implemented."
"The shortest way of ending the internal division and achieving reconciliation is to implement the reconciliation agreement that was signed in Cairo in October 2017, because it included practical mechanisms," said al-Sheikh.
Al-Sheikh, minister for civil affairs in the Palestinian Authority cabinet, said "after ending the internal division, the next step will be holding the general elections in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem."
He went on saying that "holding the elections will be after forming a broader unity government that can take full control on both Gaza and the West Bank and prepare for holding the elections."
Eight Palestinian factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and minor parties, presented on Monday an initiative that called for ending 13 years of internal division, forming a unity government and holding general elections by the mid of 2020.
Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh announced on Thursday that his Islamic movement unconditionally accepted the factions' initiative and is ready to join presidential and parliamentary elections.
The internal division between Hamas and Fatah started when Hamas movement's militants violently seized control of the Gaza Strip and routed the security forces of President Abbas in 2007.
