Hamas and Fatah to hold talks in Cairo

Reconciliation meeting will be first of its kind in many months; Hamas leader: We want national unity.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Hamas abu marzouk 248 88 ap (photo credit: AP [file])
Hamas abu marzouk 248 88 ap
(photo credit: AP [file])
Fatah and Hamas representatives are scheduled to meet in Cairo in the coming days in yet another bid to end their ongoing rivalry, sources close to the two parties said Thursday. The planned meeting will be the first of its kind between the two sides in many months. The decision to hold the meeting was announced following a two-day visit to Cairo by a senior Hamas delegation. The delegation, headed by Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, held talks with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Gen. Omar Suleiman on ways of ending the rift with Fatah. Suleiman is hoping to convene a "national dialogue" conference for all the Palestinian factions in the Egyptian capital early next month. But he is also hoping to bring Hamas and Fatah leaders together before the planned conference. Abu Marzouk told reporters in Cairo that the meeting with Fatah would take place "before the end of the month." He said Hamas has accepted the main points of the Egyptian initiative for ending the crisis on the Palestinian arena. "Our talks with the Egyptian brothers were very positive," he said. "We agreed on the formation of five committees to solve the crisis." The committees, he explained, would be entrusted with dealing with the following issues: the status of the Palestinian government, reforming the PLO, reconstructing the Palestinian security forces, preparing for the next parliamentary and presidential elections and restoring the pre-June 2007 situation to the Gaza Strip. "We want national unity," the Hamas leader emphasized. "We are confident that we can solve our differences." Khalil Abu Hayeh, member of the Hamas delegation to the Cairo discussions, expressed optimism regarding the prospects of the success of the Egyptian efforts. He said that the current talks were different from previous initiatives because this time the two sides were dealing with details and not only general agreements. Regarding the latest row over Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's intention to extend his term in office beyond January 2009, Abu Hayheh did not rule out the possibility that his movement would accept Abbas's stance. He said that the "election committee" that has been established in coordination with the Egyptians would have to decide on this matter. Izzat Risheq, another member of the Hamas team, also did not rule out the possibility that Hamas might change its position regarding Abbas's tenure. "Hamas might agree to some amendments in the election law as part of a comprehensive deal [with Fatah]," he said. "Once we agree on all the other issues, we will solve the problem regarding the new presidential elections." Risheq denied that Hamas had come under pressure from the Egyptians to accept the "reconciliation initiative" unconditionally. He also reiterated Hamas's opposition to the deployment of Arab troops in the Gaza Strip, saying the Egyptians showed understanding for his movement's position. Despite the optimism voiced by the Hamas leaders, a senior Fatah official, Azzam al-Ahmed, accused the Islamic movement of foot-dragging and hindering the Egyptian initiative. Ahmed described Hamas's agreement to the formation of a national unity government as a ploy aimed at winning time. "Hamas is seeking to consolidate its grip on the Gaza Strip by talking about a national unity government," he said. "The Hamas government is illegitimate and they have no right to dictate to us their terms." Yasser Abed Rabbo, a PLO official closely associated with Abbas, said he did not see "any positive changes" in Hamas's position following the Cairo meetings. He also rejected any attempt to form committees that would be entrusted with solving the crisis, saying the problems were too big to be tackled at the level of such committees.