By Xinhua,
Ramallah : An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday said Hamas’ decision to boycott national talks was motivated by regional powers.
The Egyptian-hosted inter-Palestinian dialogue, which aims at reconciling Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah movement, was postponed on Saturday after Hamas withdrew one day before the meeting starts.
“Hamas’ boycotting of the dialogue is a political one and was made according to a regional decision that intends to thwart Egypt ‘s role in the dialogue,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, who is also a member of the Palestinian Libration Organization (PLO).
The Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad and the Syrian-based Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command also boycotted the dialogue.
“President Abu Mazen (Abbas) and the PLO’s executive committee are very sorry for Hamas’ stance which harms the Palestinian cause,” he added.
Egypt postponed the dialogue but did not set up a new date. The talks were designated to settle Hamas-Fatah crisis which widened in June 2007 after Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and took over Gaza Strip.
Hamas said it decided to boycott the dialogue after Abbas insisted that his forces don’t hold any Hamas supporters as political prisoners in West Bank.
Hamas says more than 500 of its supporters are confined in West Bank. But Abed Rabbo denies. “I challenge Hamas and the other factions to give me a name of any supporter being held politically.”
Hamas responded that pro-Abbas forces arrested 34 of its supporters in West Bank over the past 24 hours. A statement by Hamas mentioned the names of 22 who were arrested only in Hebron during the latest clampdown.
In Gaza, Hamas freed 17 prisoners from Fatah two weeks ago, saying they were all the political prisoners it holds. However, Hamas forces rounded up 50 Fatah supporters this week, including most of the 17.