President Obama's administration favors Fatah-Hamas dialogue

Sunday February 22, 2009 12:54 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

The administration of U.S president Barak Obama okayed a renewed Fatah-Hamas national unity dialogue over the weekend.  A top Palestinian Authority official in Ramallah stated that the dialogue is a good opportunity for stability in the region

Palestinian President Abbas, right, PM Ismail Haniya of Hamas, left (Archive Photo)

Included with the U.S position is that Egypt is given the green light to accelerate intra-Palestinian talks for reconciliation between the rival Hamas and Fatah parties, the official maintained.

According to the Israeli Online Daily, The Jerusalem Post, quoting the official in a condition of anonymity, "the new administration has a different policy than that of former U.S president Gorge W. Bush (who followed Israeli policies blindly). President Barak Obama believes that Fatah-Hamas reconciliation is good for stability".

Meanwhile, Cairo has set Wednesday, February 24th as the starting date of the Hamas-Fatah dialogue in the Egyptian capital, after Cairo had earlier called the conference off because Israel refused a ceasefire deal with Gaza-based factions until Hamas released captured soldier, Gi'lad Shalit. Hamas's spokesperson in Gaza, Mosheer Almasri, voiced his party's willingness to embark on a national dialogue with Fatah if the Ramallah-baed government releases dozens of Hamas men from the Palestinian Authotiry's custody.

Over the weekend, Hamas welcomed a brief visit to Gaza by U.S Democrat Congressman, John Kerry, but expressed disappointment that the U.S dignitary did not meet leaders of the democratically-elected Hamas leaders. In 2006, the former U.S administration of George Bush boycotted Hamas, and demanded Hamas to declare recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence, and acceptance of previously-signed peace agreements with Israel before the United States recognizes Hamas.  Although, Hamas has stated publicly that it would recognize Israel based on the pre-1967 borderd, which is the international consensus for a two-state solution, and the unanimous agreement of the Arab 22.

In June of 2007, the ruling Hamas ended a fierce power struggle with the Fatah party of the U.S-backed Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, by seizing the Gaza Strip and ousting Fatah-allied forces. Abbas then outlawed Hamas and formed a Fatah-dominated government in the West Bank.

Palestinian unity talks slated for Wednesday in Cairo

Sunday February 22, 2009 06:41 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry reported on Saturday that the national unity and reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas, in participation with other resistace factions, will be held on Wednesday in Cairo. The talks are part of an Egyptian initiative for a ceasefire deal with Israel, and opening all six border terminals.

Different Palestinian factions confirmed receiving invitations to participate in talks in Cairo on February 25. The Hamas movement stated that it is very interested in successful talks in order to achieve reconciliation and unity that would serve the best interests of the Palestinian people.  

Hamas sources said that previous Hamas-Fatah talks in Cairo paved the road for successful unity talks.

The Fatah movement stated that it will participate in the talks in order to achieve unity and to counter all of the challenges that Palestinians are faced with on a daily basis.  

Hamas and Fatah were supposed to hold talks last Sunday, but the meeting was postponed after the Israeli government decided to link the issue of opening border terminals in Gaza with a prisoner-swap deal. The talks were also delayed after Hamas demanded Fatah to release all political prisoners in the West Bank.

Fawzi Barhoum, spokesperson for Hamas, stated that February 25 is the date for resuming internal talks, but he also said that successful talks require real efforts to release all political prisoners.

A Fatah leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Fatah movement might soon decide to release a significant number of Hamas prisoners.  

Hamas stated that releasing political prisoners in the West Bank is an essential step for dialogue and reconciliation.

Regarding truce with Israel, Hamas stated that this issue is linked with lifting the siege and opening all border terminals.

Hamas issued a press release on Saturday, stating that the movement believes that genuine and serious dialogue is the only way to achieve reconciliation. The movement added that it never rejected dialogue, but always insisted on serious talks that are basic and on solid ground.      

Egypt invites Hamas to attend dialog sessions next Wednesday

[ 21/02/2009 - 04:14 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Hamas Movement said Saturday that it has received an official invitation from Egypt to participate in the inter-Palestinian dialog sessions to be held on the 25th of this month, highlighting its keenness to render the dialog successful.

In a press release received by the PIC, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum stressed the need to get all political prisoners released from PA jails in order to create a climate for success.

For his part, Hamas MP Dr. Salah Al-Bardawil asserted that his Movement was ready for national dialog in Cairo and would go to that dialog with "open hearts".

He stressed in a press release that a suitable atmosphere must prevail before the initiation of the dialog in order to ensure its success, pointing to Hamas meetings with Fatah in Cairo over the past few days in which ending media campaigns and releasing detainees were discussed. Hamas also underlined in another statement from Damascus received by the PIC that it believes that the real and serious dialog is the only way to achieve a national reconciliation, adding that it always called for developing a solid ground for the dialog so as to achieve its intended objectives.

The statement called for releasing the political prisoners in PA jails as a starting point for the success of dialog.

In another context, the statement pointed out that Hamas upholds its demands regarding the prisoner swap deal, reiterating its rejection of linking the release of the Israeli soldier to the truce issue.   It highlighted that any talks about the swap deal should start from the point reached, not from the starting point.