Officials: Palestinians want unity

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah is up to Palestinians and no business of either Israel or the United States, an official said Saturday.

"The overwhelming majority of Palestinians want unity," the Palestinian Authority official told The Jerusalem Post.

Israeli officials have suggested a rapprochement would hinder peace negotiations. A meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas, is scheduled soon in Cairo.

Hamas, which won a majority in the 2006 parliamentary election, effectively seized control of Gaza in 2007. That left Fatah with no effective opposition in the larger West Bank.

The Post, citing sources, said Fatah has backed off its demand that Salam Fayyad stay on as prime minister. Fayyad was appointed by Abbas in 2007.

Hamas has refused to accept Fayyad, an internationally known economist. He complained on his Facebook page recently about the controversy.

"They are talking about me as if I had been imposed on the Palestinian people," Fayyad wrote. "Frankly speaking, such talk is harmful to the Palestinians, the various factions and me personally. I don't want to be an obstacle hindering anything."