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Palestinian national dialogue to start this month

By Xinhua,

Gaza : National dialogue between Palestinian factions, mainly Hamas and Fatah, will start at the end of this month in Egypt under the sponsorship by the Arab League (AL), a Palestinian faction official said on Sunday.

In preparation for the talks, the two movements presented the names of the prisoners they hold to an AL follow-up committee to release them, said Saleh Zidan, an official from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).

Hamas ousted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement a year ago and took over Gaza Strip. As a result, pro-Abbas forces launched a crackdown against Hamas in the Fatah-dominated West Bank. Hamas also arrested Fatah supporters in Gaza.

Abbas called for dialogue with Hamas a few days ago, apparently giving up a condition that Hamas must end its control on Gaza ahead of any talks. Hamas welcomed the move.

Zidan said that there was a proposal to send Arab forces into Gaza to oversee the reconstruction of the Palestinian security services that have been the bone of contention between Hamas and Fatah.

He added the proposal stipulates to reform the security services away from the political affiliation of their members.

However, deposed Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haneya completely rejected the idea of sending Arab forces into Gaza.