Hamas ready for true reconciliation

Deputy Prime Minister of the Hamas government in Gaza, Ziad Zaza, says that Gaza would never separate from the unified Palestinian state, adding that Hamas is ready for "true reconciliation" with Fatah. Speaking to Arabstoday, Zaza confirmed that meetings will be taking place in Cairo between Fatah and Hamas officials to reach an agreement on a reconciliation accord that would bring the Palestinian territories under one authority. "We are aiming to reach a reconciliation accord that would protect the main foundations of the Palestinian people and also protects the anti-occupation resistance force, in addition to guaranteeing full respect to the people's will which is represented in the ballot boxes," said Zaza. The former Economic Minister added that Hamas believes that a neutral and non-politicised government should be appointed to organise and oversee the next elections in the Palestinian territories, which should bring a unified government to rule in Palestinian territories. "We also have to agree on a plan to rebuild the security apparatus on new basis," he added. Zaza praised his government's ability to continue working on improving the general services in Gaza despite the non-stop Israeli aggressions on the enclave."During the last few years, we succeeded in offering 185 job opportunities in Gaza. The unemployment decreased from 60% to 30%," he said, adding that his government needs $2 million monthly to end the unemployment crisis in Gaza over five years. Zaza went on to list other positive statistics to prove the efficiency of his government. "Gaza was registering 10,000 to 12,000 marriages a year. This number has now jumped to 20,000 marriages. On the other hand the divorce percentage decreased from 12 percent to 7 percent. That is a good indication of stability and social safety in Gaza," he said. On the health sector, Zaza said that the Hamas government dedicates $2 million monthly to improve the hospitals and health facilities in Gaza. On rebuilding the houses and facilities destroyed during the Israeli airstrikes, Zaza said that Hamas has counted about 5,000 houses which were partially destroyed in the latest Israeli aggression in November 2012; 2500 of them were completely reconstructed, while the work continues in other 1000 houses. Zaza said that only 50% of Gaza's needs of food are coming through the border crossings, while the rest comes through the tunnels extending across the borders between Gaza and Egypt. He repeated his government's call to Egypt to allow the rest of the Qatari-donated oil supplies to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing in order to put an end to the power crisis in the enclave. He also revealed that his government finds it difficult to pay its financial obligations while it gets nothing from the taxes collected by Israel on the trade through Gaza's crossings. "These taxes are estimated at $50 million annually," he said.