Arab paper: Abbas moves closer to Hamas due to coming Israeli invasion
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for renewed dialog with Hamas in recent days due to an imminent Israeli takeover of the Gaza Strip, London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Saturday.
According to the paper, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert plans to launch a large-scale military operation in the territory in the near future with the aim of retaking control.
Olmert offered Abbas to hand Gaza over to his loyalists following the operation, the report went on. Abbas purportedly rejected the offer, and told Olmert he would renew dialog with Hamas before Israel begins its campaign, so as not to seem as though he received control of Gaza "thanks to Israeli tanks."