JEDDAH, 23 June 2007 — Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, yesterday called upon the warring Palestinian groups — Fatah and Hamas — to stop their bloody fighting and renew their commitment to the Makkah Accord.
“We call upon our Palestinian brothers with our full voice to lay down their weapons and abide by the terms and conditions of the Makkah Agreement immediately,” the imam said while delivering his juma (Friday) sermon.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal signed an accord in Makkah in February, which led to the formation of a Palestinian unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah initiated the Makkah talks by inviting Palestinian leaders to the holy city to settle their differences peacefully after the two groups entered into their first bout of infighting earlier this year.
Sheikh Sudais urged the Palestinian groups to stand united against their real enemy, setting aside their differences.
“And hold fast together the rope of God and be not divided among yourselves. And remember with gratitude God’s favor upon you as He joined your hearts in love after you had become enemies and by His grace you became brethren,” the imam reminded the Palestinian leaders by quoting a verse from the Holy Qur’an.
He called upon the Palestinian leaders not to waste the outcome of their 50-year-old legitimate struggle. He blasted Palestinian leaders for giving precedence to their personal ambitions and vested interests at the cost of their higher national interests.
Describing the Palestinian infighting as big tragedy, the imam called upon Arab leaders to continue their efforts to unite Palestinian leaders without disappointment.
He also quoted a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which warned Muslims against fighting each other as it would make them infidels.
