By Xinhua,
Gaza : A Fatah official on Wednesday urged Islamic Hamas movement to accept Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for dialogue.
“We want to end the split and start with practical steps on the ground to create the positive atmosphere that secures the success of the dialogue,” said Zakaria al-Agha, Fatah representative in the Gaza Strip.
The split between the rival Hamas and Fatah movements culminated when Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces in Gaza by force last year, and from then on the coastal Strip has been separated from the West Bank where Abbas moved his power and formed a western-backed government.
Agha called on Hamas and Fatah movements to stop trading accusations of betraying in their respective publication campaigns. He also urged the two sides to stop arresting the supporters of each other in Gaza and the West Bank.
He also called for an Arab sponsorship for the dialogue in order to boost the chances of its success.
Last month, President Abbas said he wants to talk with Hamas which controls Gaza. Hamas welcomed the call but Fatah says Hamas actions in Gaza failed to prove that the Islamic movement was interested in the dialogue.
Earlier, Jibril Rajoub, a senior Fatah movement official said that a Palestinian national dialogue sponsored by Egypt will start next month in Cairo.