RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 13 (UPI) -- The Palestinian Authority says it's time to settle differences with Hamas militants and form a unity government in the West Bank.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad, who along with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is a member of the moderate Fatah faction, called on Hamas to join it in an effort to fight an Israeli crackdown in the West Bank, The Jerusalem Post reported Sunday.
Israel last week announced it would conduct an intensive campaign to limit the spread of Hamas influence from Gaza to the West Bank, where Fatah has traditionally held sway. The crackdown includes the closure of schools, health care facilities and other infrastructure deemed to be under the control of Hamas. Israel accuses the group of funding and conducting terrorism.
Fayad Saturday called for an end to Fatah-Hamas differences.
"The response to the Israeli measures should be the immediate reunification of the two parts of the homeland (West Bank and Gaza Strip)," the Post quoted him as telling Arab media. "We must end the division and restore unity immediately."
