RAMALLAH, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Gaza Strip will never see stability before witnessing Israeli withdrawal and finding a comprehensive political solution, an official of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said Wednesday.
"The Palestinian and Arab priority at this stage is to reinforce the ceasefire in Gaza, halt the devastating war, and secure a complete Israeli withdrawal to allow the Palestinians to reorganize and restore stability," Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of the PLO, said in a press statement.
"The day after the war must be Palestinian, above all," al-Sheikh stressed, noting that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will take over Gaza's administration through a transitional phase led by a committee of independent Palestinian figures.
"The committee will be headed by a minister from the government, who will also serve as the deputy prime minister," he explained, urging Arab coordination to prevent any attempts to displace Gaza residents.
The PA expects a "responsible and historic position" from Hamas, relinquishing control of Gaza and transforming into a political party, he said.
Hamas should commit to the PLO and international legitimacy within the framework of a vision centered on "one authority, one law, and one weapon," he said.
Deploying international forces in Gaza and the West Bank for security and stability could be seen as a step toward a comprehensive political settlement to end the Israeli occupation and establish a Palestinian state, he said.
The official also noted that the Egypt-drafted Gaza reconstruction plan proposed and approved at the just-concluded emergency Arab summit aims to prevent displacement and create conditions for Gazans' return to normal life. ■
