Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad Al-Hindi gave an interview with Gaza's weekly paper Al-Istiqlal, and spoke about conditions in Gaza, the state of Palestine and ideas about national unity.Al-Hindi prefaced his interview with the statement, “challenges and dangers have taken place in the Palestinian arena recently, which affect the very essence of whatever it is that we call “Palestinian.” The widening gap between Hamas and Fatah despite the frequent proposals of different sides to resume internal dialogue to get out of current crisis is troubling."
A positive atmosphere for the launch of an internal Palestinian dialogue is essential, according to Al-Hindi. He said that dialogue would be useless if it occurred without the support of many Palestinians devoted to the efforts. He sited political persuasion and detentions across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as one of the things that must stop in order to create the positive atmosphere.
Islamic Jihad has been working towards carrying out dialogues with those in Ramallah and Gaza, he added. It was these efforts, he noted, which resulted in the release of a number of detainees, saying that this was not enough and all political detainees should be released as soon as possible.
The current Palestinian situation, he said, serves Israel by allowing it to surround and close off Gaza, and at the same time take advantage of instability in the West Bank to continue confiscating lands and constructing settlements.
As the term of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas comes to an end in January-February, Al-Hindi said he was afraid that the next months will witness escalations in factional disagreements.
With regard to truce, Al-Hindi added: “the truce hasn’t ended the blockade and there is a large resentment of continuation of such a situation.” He called on all resistance factions to meet and evaluate the situation of the truce and to take a united course with regards to its future.
Whether Olmert stayed or left the leadership of Israel, he said, nothing would change since all Israeli parties agree on basic issues used in dealing with Palestinians especially Jerusalem, borders, settlements and refugees.
Israeli talk about invading Gaza is just election propaganda, he said, adding, "any invasion wouldn't be a picnic for Israeli army".
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