Spring Break
Hamas and Fatah to begin talks on repairing rift
Associated Press
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: News
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - The Islamic militants of Hamas and the moderates of Fatah have never had more compelling reasons to repair the rift between them that is fast destroying their dreams for a Palestinian state.
As they begin a new round of unity talks after several failed attempts, Hamas needs the Western-backed Fatah's international legitimacy to get foreign aid to rebuild Gaza, which was devastated in Israel's recent offensive.
Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas badly needs an alliance with Hamas to bolster his political standing, eroded after his term as Palestinian president expired and a victory by hard-liners in Israel's election undermined the pragmatists' central tenet: that peaceful negotiations with Israel will win Palestinians a state.
But a unity agreement appears to be a long shot. Distrust between Hamas and Fatah runs deep after a three-year power struggle, including a civil war that ended with Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza in 2007, leaving Abbas' Fatah in charge of just the West Bank.
Sami Suboh, a 32-year-old doctor whose house was destroyed during Israel's Gaza offensive, said he hoped for a unity deal soon.
"With the unity government everything would go back to normal. I hope that they can reach an agreement," he said, waiting in line for Red Cross aid supplies. But he added, "It is unlikely."
The sides traded nasty accusations this week despite pledges to be civil ahead of reconciliation talks beginning Wednesday in Cairo.
Hamas claimed Abbas' government ran a Gaza spy ring that fed Israel information about Hamas targets during the fighting. Fatah accused Hamas of killing and wounding dozens of Fatah activists under the cover of the war.
"All Hamas has been doing is poison the atmosphere," said Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo. Ehab Ghussein, a Hamas official, countered that Fatah's statements prove it is not interested in making amends.
Partly to clear the air, top officials - Ahmed Qureia of Fatah and Mussa Abu Marzuk of Hamas - agreed to a preliminary meeting Tuesday, according to Abbas aide Nabil Shaath. Abbas' security officials also freed 42 Hamas detainees in the West Bank on Tuesday in a goodwill gesture and promised more releases the next day, said Ayman Daraghmeh, a Hamas legislator.
As they begin a new round of unity talks after several failed attempts, Hamas needs the Western-backed Fatah's international legitimacy to get foreign aid to rebuild Gaza, which was devastated in Israel's recent offensive.
Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas badly needs an alliance with Hamas to bolster his political standing, eroded after his term as Palestinian president expired and a victory by hard-liners in Israel's election undermined the pragmatists' central tenet: that peaceful negotiations with Israel will win Palestinians a state.
But a unity agreement appears to be a long shot. Distrust between Hamas and Fatah runs deep after a three-year power struggle, including a civil war that ended with Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza in 2007, leaving Abbas' Fatah in charge of just the West Bank.
Sami Suboh, a 32-year-old doctor whose house was destroyed during Israel's Gaza offensive, said he hoped for a unity deal soon.
"With the unity government everything would go back to normal. I hope that they can reach an agreement," he said, waiting in line for Red Cross aid supplies. But he added, "It is unlikely."
The sides traded nasty accusations this week despite pledges to be civil ahead of reconciliation talks beginning Wednesday in Cairo.
Hamas claimed Abbas' government ran a Gaza spy ring that fed Israel information about Hamas targets during the fighting. Fatah accused Hamas of killing and wounding dozens of Fatah activists under the cover of the war.
"All Hamas has been doing is poison the atmosphere," said Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo. Ehab Ghussein, a Hamas official, countered that Fatah's statements prove it is not interested in making amends.
Partly to clear the air, top officials - Ahmed Qureia of Fatah and Mussa Abu Marzuk of Hamas - agreed to a preliminary meeting Tuesday, according to Abbas aide Nabil Shaath. Abbas' security officials also freed 42 Hamas detainees in the West Bank on Tuesday in a goodwill gesture and promised more releases the next day, said Ayman Daraghmeh, a Hamas legislator.
Be the first to comment on this story