On May 12, The PPC/GI organized a political workshop in Gaza City entitled "To Guarantee the Success of the National Dialogue" with the attendance of representatives of all Palestinian factions and other civil society figures.

Date: 12.05.2009

The workshop, which was attended by dozens of Gaza's civil society representatives, and political figures, was organized in cooperation with Swedish Olaf Palme Institute as part of the "Peace at Home Project".

Hamas: National Dialogue didn’t Fail

The first to speak in the meeting was Hamas spokesperson Ismail Ridwan, who emphasized that his organization believes that the Palestinian national dialogue didn’t fail hoping that the coming round of talks will succeed in ending the current political split by reaching an agreement between the Palestinian factions on all issues.

Mr. Ridwan said that the continuation of the national dialogue is a success itself.
However, he added that the main reason for the failure of reaching an agreement between the Palestinian factions is the foreign interference.

Fatah: There is a need to Form a National Unity Government

Fatah representative and Member of its Revolutionary Council, Mr. Yehya Rabah, stressed that reaching an agreement should be based on forming a national unity government that will prepare for elections and rebuilding of the Gaza Strip.

He also criticized some parties' interest in keeping the political split adding that "no one will succeed without ending the current national division"

Jihad: Success of Dialogue Requires Arab, Egyptian Pressure

Jihad representative, Mr. Khaled Al-Batsh, criticized the foreign intervention in the national dialogue calling in same time for an Arab and Egyptian pressure to reach an agreement between the Palestinian factions.

PFLP: The People are Very Disappointed

Representative of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hussein Al-Jamal, called for public pressure on the main Palestinian factions to reach an agreement to end the political split.

Mr. Al-Jamal criticized both Fatah and Hams for not taking concrete steps to end the suffering of the people in Gaza following the last war.

Popular Struggle Front: there is a Ned for Transitional Government

Representative of the Popular Struggle Front, Mr. Mahmoud Al-Rezeq, called for forming a transitional government until the next elections that is capable of lifting the siege and rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

Democratic Front: Dialogue Should Not Only Be Between Hamas & Fatah

Mr. Ramzi Rabah, Representative of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, stressed that there is a need for a dialogue that involved all Palestinian factions criticizing dual dialogue between Fatah and Hamas.

Arab Front: We Should Focus on National Interests

Representative of the Arab Liberation Front, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Zanin, called for focusing on the national interests rather than political gains and positions. He also emphasized that holding presidential and parliamentary elections is the best solution to get out from the current crisis.

People's Party: Factions Failed to Fulfill People's Ambitions

Representative of the People Party, Mr. Waleed Awad, said that the two main factions have failed to fulfill the needs of the Palestinian public to end the internal division.

He further criticized the absence of the national independent decision warning that the Palestinian people are disappointed of the failure of the factions to reach an agreement.

Arab Palestinian Front Calls for Technocrat Government

Representative of the Arab Palestinian Front, Mr. Salah Abu Rukbeh, stressed that the criticized the failure of reaching an agreement on the national dialogue adding that the only solution is to form a technocrat government that will prepare the atmospheres for conducting new Parliamentary and presidential elections.