UPDATED ON:
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
20:29 Mecca time, 17:29 GMT
 
News Middle East
Bid to ease Palestinian divide
The Palestian factions have seen heightened tensions since bitter clashes in June 2006 [AFP]

Arab foreign ministers have begun meeting in Cairo to lay the groundwork for national reconciliation talks between the main Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.

The emergency meeting on Wednesday came three days after Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, threatened to call early elections if the two sides failed to soon resolve their differences.

The Fatah-allied president largely controls the occupied West Bank whereas Hamas runs the Gaza Strip.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Ismail Haniya, the deposed Palestinian prime minister, said Fatah must stop arresting Hamas members in the West Bank before his group will join the talks.

"The campaign launched by the security forces in West Bank must come to an end," he said.

"All the political detainees in West Bank [must] be released and ... a delegation from the West Bank must join the Cairo talks."

Palestinian in-fighting

He also said some changes needed to be made to a reconciliation proposal put forward by Egypt, including that the two parties be treated as "partners standing on equal footing".

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"If the three requirements are fulfilled, we will be ready for the internal dialogue, since our decision is built on the national interest and our desire to make this dialogue a success," Haniya said.

Abbas has accused Hamas of obstructing the talks under "false pretences", according to the Palestian MAAN news agency, saying "As if I was the one deciding who can leave the country!"

He said certain Fatah leaders have been unable to travel to Cairo due to Israel's border restrictions on the West Bank.

According to diplomats at the meeting in Cairo, Abbas is pressuring Arab countries to punish Hamas for its refusal to give up control of Gaza.

But they say no consensus has yet been formed and some countries, such as Qatar and Syria, favour a softer approach to accommodate Hamas.

Israeli blockade

Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip also featured high on the agenda of Wednesday's meeting.

Syria has proposed plans should be discussed to end the economic blockade imposed by Israel over Palestinian cross-border rocket fire.

Israel has largely kept Gaza's borders closed since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2006 following violent clashes with Palestinian Authority security forces.

Three of Gaza's six border crossings were, however, opened for a few hours on Wednesday.

Lorries carried wheat, petrol and cooking gas, as well as humanitarian supplies from the the UN relief agency into the Palestinian territory.

A boat laden with food, medicine and other vital supplies also departed for the Palestinian coastal enclave on Wednesday morning from the Libyan port of Zawara, Jamal Khoudari, an independent legislator in Gaza, said.

Israel has said the blockade of Gaza will continue until Palestinian fighters stop firing rockets at Israeli towns.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 9
 
Rhys
Australia
27/11/2008
Egypt
Yes it appears that Egypt is little more than a puppet of the Americans and Israelis. Without their help there could be no blockade of Gaza. I wonder why all the focus is on Israel when Egypt could end the blokade today if it desired. Israel at least has a reason to blockade Gaza. The Egyptian government should be ashamed of itself. I'm sure the Egyptian people don't support their actions.

Zed
Malaysia
27/11/2008
Hamas
Hamas is actually looking for the interest of the public and they are the ones being targeted?? If Hamas becomes the ruling party I feel the Palestinians will be much better off!

Joseph
South Africa
27/11/2008
Bid to ease Palestine divide
Egypt should be ashamed as an Arab country to be part of Gaza suffering and blockade. Shame on you Egypt and Arab leaders for letting your own people be treated like slaves and dogs

Hugo van Randwyck
United Kingdom
27/11/2008
Bid to ease Palestinian divide
Hamas and Fatah could offer Palestinians a positive initiative - the opportunity for all Palestinians to express a 'voting voice'. They could organise elections, including the refugees, on the same day as the Israelis. The refugees could have ballot boxes marked with their ancestral towns, e.g. Haifa, Acre, Jerusalem, and elect their own representatives. The refugees could also have a second ballot for parties only inside Israel! Which results will the democracies support?!

steve paul
Palestinian Territory
27/11/2008
love your nabor as yourself
By the way what are we fighting for?that cant makes us unite,we should not show the world that we are old-fashion illitrates prehistorically.

harold
United States
26/11/2008
gaza
Egypt and Jordan have to stop dealing with Israel until she stops her aggresion against the Palestinians.

Norberto
Argentina
27/11/2008
The Free UN must force Israel to end the blockade
The Free UN (not the farce of UN we currently have) must force Israel to end the blockade even if military intervention is needed. The conflict is created by Israel by in retaliation for the Palestinians sovereign decision of electing Hammas. Strange kind of democracy imposed by USA and Israel on Palestine.

Juanito
Spain
27/11/2008
Egypt controlled by USA and Israel.
Egypt (a few rich egyptians) much prefer to see the israelis turist laying on the beaches of Sinai, than palestinians seeking food there.

Grace
United States
02/12/2008
Give it up Fatah
I wonder if there would be a grass roots movement to memorialize Abbas as there would certainly be for P.M. Haniya. Much like what we have seen for a certain Argentinian that fought for justice, Che! Ismael Haniya on posters and t-shirts around the world! Watch out Israel no one will let him go.

 
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