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Aljazeera - 14 Sep 2011 03:40 - Gaza City - The Hamas-led government in Gaza is distancing itself from the Palestine Liberation Organisation's upcoming bid for full membership in the United Nations for both political and ideological reasons. "Because nobody consulted us, we, Hamas, do not take this issue seriously," Ahmed Yousef, the deputy foreign minister in Gaza, told Al Jazeera. Some Gazans think the vote could offer a public-relations victory for Palestinians. Yousef refused to call the vote symbolic, saying only that it is "a step in the right direction". "The Hamas government didn't support this step, but we didn't reject it either," said Ihab al-Ghusain, an interior ministry spokesman. "We want the Palestinian people to have their national rights, but we are frustrated with the United Nations." "I think it's a good step. But I wish that the reconciliation would happen and the situation would improve between Gaza and the West Bank," he said. "But I don't think the reconciliation will happen. There's no trust." "I think most of the Palestinian people believe [the situation] will become better because more countries will recognize Palestine," said Abu Mohammed, a vendor with a small cigarette stand near the Gaza seafront. "Right now, many of them have no idea of Palestine, so if they recognize us, it will improve our situation. It's better if more countries recognize Palestine," he said. "Recognition of the Palestinian state is something very important because instead of talking about 'disputed land', it means we are talking about the land of the Palestinians," said Yousef, stressing that this was a personal opinion. "This is something important for the future of the Palestinian people."
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