Date: 23 / 06 / 2009 Time: 14:01 | |
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| Dweik crosses into the West Bank on Tuesday [Ma'anImages] |
Dweik said the message came from the other Palestinian lawmakers in Israeli custody, as well as Nael Barghouthi, the longest serving prisoner detained more than 30 years ago.
“Detained Palestinian lawmakers are currently exerting efforts to make a clear path for healing the rift between the Palestinian rivals and restore Palestinian unity,” Dweik said on the steps of the Palestinian Legislative Council building in Ramallah.
Another initiative of the detained lawmakers was to find a way to get the PLC functioning again. “I extend my hand to any party planning to unite the Palestinian people,” he said.
Dweik also said he would put his efforts toward the release of all Palestinians detained in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for political reasons, and condemned those responsible for such infighting.
Multi-faction welcoming party
Dweik was released from an Israeli prison Tuesday morning and arrived at the At-Tayba military checkpoint in the afternoon following three years of detention.
Dweik was received by a large delegation of political supporters from both Fatah and Hamas including Palestinian lawmaker and Minister of Prisoners Affairs in the caretaker government Issa Qaraqe. They were joined by Hamas leaders Omar Abdul-Raziq, Mahmoud Ar-Ramahi, Fathi Qar’awi, and Abdul-Rahman Zeidan who gathered to receive the PLC speaker.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas telephoned Dweik as he arrived at the checkpoint to congratulate him on his release. The call was followed by a second congratulatory call from Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Dweik delivered a short speech to the assembled leaders, saying he had a “pleasant surprise for the Palestinian people” which he would announce at the gate of the PLC in Ramallah. Dweik is a celebrated political figure in all party ranks, and is seen as a unifying force within Palestinian politics.
Dweik, a Hamas member, was due to be released on 6 August at the end of a three year sentence, according to a court decision handed down last week. Hwiel, a Fatah member, finished his jail term on 20 June.
Fares said that the Israeli military court in the settlement of Ofer, near Ramallah, issued the decision to release the two on Tuesday.
He also called for the release of all of the PLC lawmakers still held by Israel.
At least one Fatah official did not join in the display of unity. Tulkarem governor Talal Dweikat, originally reported to be attending the welcoming ceremony at the At-Taybeh checkpoint, phoned Ma’an to say, “I am not prepared to be courteous with any of Hamas leaders whether it is Aziz Dweik or others as long as there is still a coup in the Gaza Strip.”
