by Saud Abu Ramadan
GAZA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Tuesday threatened to delay the signing of an inter-reconciliation deal in Cairo this month due to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)'s request to postpone a vote on a UN fact-finding report on Israel's war in Gaza.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum told Xinhua by telephone that his movement and all Palestinian factions "were very upset" after the PNA demanded postponement of the vote in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the report.
On Friday, media reports revealed that the PNA representative at the UNHRC in Geneva Ibrahim Khreisha had requested delaying the vote on the report prepared by South African judge Richard Goldstone until March 2010.
The Gaza report found Israel guilty of committing war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity. It also said the rockets on southern Israel territories, fired by Hamas during the fighting, violated laws of wars.
"Hamas warns that the postponement of the voting, which was largely condemned by all the Palestinians and the Arabs, would have an influence on the preparations for holding a final round of comprehensive dialogue and sign a final reconciliation agreement," said Barhoum.
The PNA decision had caused a large-scale Palestinian and Arab condemnation. Gaza ruler Hamas accused President Mahmoud Abbas of shouldering direct responsibility for asking the PNA representative in Geneva to adjourn the vote.
Hamas has launched harsh attacks against Abbas and the PNA following reports of the vote delay, as Egypt still prepares for the coming round of dialogue.
On Monday, Gaza Hamas strongman Mahmoud al-Zahar demanded President Abbas be stripped off his Palestinian identity over the PNA request to postpone the voting on the report.
"I call on the parliament to work hard on procedures to strip Abbas and everyone who joined him in this crime off the Palestinian nationality," said al-Zahar, who called for an investigation into the PNA's role. "In this way, we can punish everyone committing crimes against our people."
On Tuesday, Hamas denied being officially informed of any arrangement for an official date to sign the national reconciliation agreement in Cairo by the end of this month, while Fatah said it is ready for dialogue and signing the deal at any time.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said after talks with Abbas in Amman on Monday that leaders of Palestinian factions, including rival Hamas and Fatah will sign a reconciliation agreement in Cairo on Oct. 26 to end around three years of inter-Palestinian feud.
Senior Hamas leader Sallah al-Bardaweel told Xinhua in an interview that Hamas has not received any note about any final arrangements or about setting up a date for signing the reconciliation deal.
"When Hamas delegation, headed by Khaled Meshaal, was in Cairo in September, it was informed by intelligence chief Omer Suleiman that the factions will be invited to Cairo on October 18 and signing the agreement will be on the October 22," said al-Bardaweel.
A well-informed Palestinian source close to Abbas told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that Abbas may issue a presidential decree on Oct. 25, a day before signing the reconciliation deal, to set up a date for holding presidential and legislative elections in Palestinian territories.
"Hamas is concerned that Abbas would set up January 25 as the date for the elections, the thing which would undermine signing a deal in Cairo on Oct. 26. But if he declares that he decided to postpone the elections until June 2010, the deal will be for sure signed on time," said the source.
According to the Palestinian law, the elections are due on January 25.
However, the latest Egyptian initiative for reconciliation, which was accepted by Fatah and Hamas, calls for postponing the elections for six months to give the two sides enough time to reach an agreement.
Egypt's initiative calls for deploying a 300-men security force in Gaza Strip, trained and supervised by Egyptian and Arab security officers. It also calls for forming a joint factional committee, under Abbas' supervision, to coordinate between Hamas government in Gaza and the government in the West Bank.
Abdallah Abdallah, a senior Fatah leader in the West Bank, said his movement "is ready to sign a reconciliation agreement as soon as possible," adding that Abbas and Abul Gheit agreed in Amman on Monday on the date for reconciliation.
"I hope that the outcomes of Goldstone report crisis won't affect the inter-dialogue or the signing of the reconciliation agreement," said Abdallah, adding "If we gain our unity soon, then we will be able in the coming six months to ask for voting on the fact-finding report."
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