Deputy head of Hamas's political bureau Ismail Haniya has spoken over the phone with Mustafa al-Barghouthi, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, and condemned the vicious attack which he was exposed to two days ago. 

Haniya affirmed that all the desperate attempts to stop the current intifada (uprising) against the occupation would not succeed in deterring those who work for their people.

Barghouthi, in turn, expressed his thanks to Haniya for his phone call and assured him that such an incident would only increase his steadfastness and make him more adherent to his approach.

Barghouthi was wounded in the face on Saturday night after two unknown men stabbed him with a sharp instrument.

He told a news conference that the assailants shouted at him “let the intifada benefit you” before they fled the scene.