Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrapped up his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday afternoon after obtaining reassurance of support for his Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

 

 

Abbas left Abu Dhabi Sunday afternoon after holding talks with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, according to reports by the official Emirates News Agency.

 

During his meeting with Abbas, Sheikh Khalifa reiterated his country's "firm" stance in the support of the Palestinian people as well as the PNA , led by Abbas.

 

The UAE president called on the Palestinian people to unite together and put their differences aside to tackle the challenges facing them, referring apparently to recent violent conflicts between the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah.

 

Sheikh Khalifa also urged the international community to work seriously to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and to jumpstart the peace process on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative reactivated in the 19th Arab summit in Riyadh in March, which is expected to lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

 

During his meeting with Abbas, Sheikh Hamdan also stressed the need to boost international efforts to revive the Middle East peace process.

 

During his meeting with the UAE leaders, Abbas expressed his appreciation of UAE for its continuous support for the Palestinians in various areas.

 

Abbas arrived Saturday night in UAE after winding up a short visit to Jordan where he discussed with some Arab lawmakers the prospect of starting talks between Fatah and Hamas factions.

 

Hamas militants overran members of Fatah led by Abbas and took control of the Gaza Strip last month, during which at least 100 Palestinians were killed.

 

In response, Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led unity government, which took office on March 17, and swore in an emergency government in the West Bank, which Hamas denounced as "illegitimate."

 

Abbas also outlawed Hamas' armed group and the Executive Forces and refused to hold any dialogue with Hamas.

 

But UAE, a member state of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, has called on rival Palestinian factions to resume dialogue.

 

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said on Saturday that the Islamic movement welcomed any internal or foreign efforts to narrow gaps between it and Fatah to promote the resumption of talks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2007)