Palestinian civil affairs minister, Mohammad Dahalan, met early on Monday a delegation of Hamas leaders in Gaza to discuss the latest preparations for the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.
In an interview with RNA, Mushier El-Massri, a Hamas spokesman, asserted that his Movement had urged Dahalan during the meeting to form a Palestinian national committee to observe the Israeli withdrawl, saying "withdrawal is a national achievement and the Palestinian Authority should not deal with it alone."
El-Massri added that both sides had agreed that Dahalan will reply to Hamas request concerning the national committee in the next few days.
Meanwhile, the visiting European Foreign policy chief said Monday the separation wall Israel is building in Jerusalem raises humanitarian problems for Palestinians and could complicate future negotiations on a final peace deal. "We think that Israel has a right to defend itself but we think that the fence when it is done outside the territory of Israel is not legally proper and it creates also humanitarian problems," visting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, according to The AP.
On their part, Palestinian officials said Israel's main goal in building the barrier is not improving security but shifting the disputed city's demographic balance in favor of Jews.
In another development, a Palestinian youth died on Monday succumbing to wounds he sustained last Thursday when Israeli occupation forces stormed Balata refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus. Palestinian sources said that 16-year old youth Noor Farris Najim had died after being shot by the Israeli occupation forces during their operation in the camp.
