GAZA (Agencies)
A joint delegation from Hamas and Islamic Jihad traveled from the Gaza Strip to Egypt on Saturday for a new round of talks on the situation in the Hamas-ruled territory, a spokesman said.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum, declined to specify what the delegations would be talking about, but Egypt has been carrying out a flurry of talks in recent weeks aimed at securing some kind of formal ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
In separate meetings with U.S. and Israeli envoys and representatives from the main Palestinian factions, Egypt has also been trying to secure an agreement to lift Israel's blockade of Gaza and reopen its land crossings.
Since Hamas took power, Israel has tightened restrictions on Gaza, preventing all but vital humanitarian aid from entering in an attempt to pressure the Hamas-run government to halt near daily rocket attacks.
A spokesman for the Hamas-run government hinted that the discussions would focus on trying to heal the internal Palestinian divide between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party.
On Thursday a Yemeni initiative to reconcile the groups ended in failure, with both sides accusing the other of rejecting the proposal, which called for a return to the power-sharing agreement that existed before the takeover.
Yemeni authorities said efforts would be made on Saturday to revive those talks. |
 |
Government expansion Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniya will expand his government in an effort to strengthen his hold on the coastal territory, an official close to the Hamas government in Gaza said.
Haniya's decision to cement Hamas's grip on Gaza opposes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's demand that the Islamist group hand over control of the enclave as delegations from the rival factions meet in Yemen for reconciliation talks.
"There are consultations to enlarge the government led by Ismail Haniya," the official told Reuters. "The prime minister in Gaza offered some Palestinian figures to participate in the government and they have expressed an initial readiness to participate."
Fatah spokesman Fahmi Zarir said: "This is illegal, this is against the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority," adding that Haniya was "expanding the gap" between the factions.
Hamas defeated Abbas's long-dominant Fatah movement in parliamentary elections in January 2006, spurring the United States and European Union to suspend aid to the Hamas-led government.
In an effort to end the Western boycott, Abbas and Haniya agreed to form a unity government in March 2007, but the administration collapsed a few months later amid factional fighting that culminated in Hamas's takeover of Gaza.
Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led government and formed a Western-backed cabinet in the occupied West Bank.
Hamas and Fatah negotiators arrived in Yemen this week to try to end hostilities, but have been unable to reach an agreement.
A main point of contention appears to be Fatah's demand, included in a Yemeni proposal, for Hamas to give up control of Gaza and for Palestinian elections to be held.
Hamas has always said it is willing to negotiate with Abbas without preconditions, while Abbas has said the Islamists must return Gaza to his control before any talks can begin. |
