By Xinhua,
Gaza : Factions of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) are working to push for an initiative to be drafted on holding dialogue between President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement and the rival Islamist Hamas movement.
Saleh Zidan, an official from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), said on Monday the factions hold meetings to formulate an action plan to pave the way for the dialogue.
The Hamas-Fatah split widened in June 2007 when Hamas routed security forces of Abbas and ousted Fatah from the Gaza Strip, taking over the coastal enclave. Abbas then formed a new government ruling from the Fatah-controlled West Bank.
The plan would be made up of a number of key points, starting with taking measures to end the tension between Hamas and Fatah by stopping all kinds of media campaigns, releasing political prisoners in Gaza and the West Bank and settling the differences via dialogue, not by resorting to violence.
Secondly, the plan calls for forming a transitional government to reunite the Palestinian National Authority’s institutions which Hamas controls in Gaza and Fatah controls in West Bank. The transitional government will also prepare for holding early presidential and parliamentary elections.
In addition, a national committee would be formed to reform the security services and forces.
The DFLP, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Fatah and the People Party contributed efforts to reach the agreement, Zidan said.
Meanwhile, Hamas said it has no problem holding dialogue with Fatah and Abbas. “Hamas has no conditions and doesn’t mind to deal with all the initiative,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom added.
However, Barhoom said Fatah has to “accept the other party (Hamas) as a partner and a key player.” He also referred to Abbas’ refusal to meet Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal during his visit in Syria early this month.