RAFAH (Gaza Strip), May 15: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, whose Hamas-led government is saddled with economic sanctions, vowed on Monday not to be pressured by an unholy alliance of Israel and the West. Speaking at a rally in southern Gaza to mark the 58th anniversary of the catastrophe of Israel’s creation, Mr Haniya also appealed for Palestinian unity following clashes between his faction and the former ruling Fatah party.

The European Union and United States have both suspended aid payments to the Palestinian Authority since Hamas formed a new government in March over its refusal to “renounce violence” or recognise “Israel’s right of existence.”

The suspension of Western aid compounded an economic crisis first sparked by Israel’s decision to freeze payment of customs duties it used to collect on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

“An unholy alliance is conspiring today to push the Palestinian government to accept political concessions and recognise the legitimacy of the occupation of Palestinian lands,” said Mr Haniya in the town of Rafah which borders Egypt.

“I say by God the Palestinian government will not make any concessions that infringe upon the rights of the Palestinian people... By God we will not recognise the legitimacy of the occupier.”

Mr Haniya, whose organisation is classified as a “terrorist organisation” by Washington, was particularly scathing about US backing for Israel.

“We say here in Rafah today: ‘No and a thousand nos’ to America which wants to take away the rights to our land and turn us into slaves. We will not be slaves except to God.”

Mr Haniya pledged to tackle the lawlessness which pervades much of the Gaza Strip and West Bank and was highlighted by clashes last week between Fatah and Hamas that left three people dead.

“We must protect Palestinian blood and we must not point Palestinian weapons at Palestinian chests,” he said.

“The government is serious in ending the security chaos because, as they say, if your house is not tidy within, then you cannot confront the external challenges.”

ABBAS: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Hamas on Monday to renounce violence and respect peace agreements, but also warned Israel that taking a unilateral approach to peacemaking would fuel extremism.

In a speech to mark the anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel, a day Palestinians call Nakba, or the great catastrophe, Abbas said Hamas, that heads the Palestinian government, should honour existing peace deals.

Without referring directly to Hamas, he said Palestinians should not be satisfied with “fiery speeches and slogans that could bring about international isolation”.—AFP/Reuters