Holy Land: Palestinian Christians welcome reconciliation between rival political groups

Fr Raed Abusahlia

News that an agreement has been reached between Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, and Fatah, which lead the Palestinian National Authority, have been welcomed by Christian Palestinians.

Catholic priest Fr Raed Abusahlia, General Director of Caritas Jerusalem, said: "The people here are all happy, and the Palestinians of Gaza are even happier than us".

Representatives of Hamas and Fatah have agreed to form a Palestinian government of national unity, within the next five weeks. Within six months, the Palestinians will be called to vote to elect a new national Legislative Council.

Fr Raed, a priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said: "The reconciliation among Palestinian political forces has provoked negative reactions in Israel and also in the USA. But the division among Palestinians was a factor that weakened the peace process. The whole world thought: 'with what force can the Palestinians participate in the peace process if they are divided among themselves?'"..

However, he concluded: "the path to achieve effective reconciliation will be long and difficult."

Source: Fides

For more information on Caritas Jerusalem see: www.caritasjr.org/