By Xinhua
Gaza : Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement on Tuesday called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to bring his Fatah movement and rival Hamas movement into a national dialogue.
“The current situation doesn’t help the Palestinians so the Islamic Jihad believes that President Abbas, as the chief of the Palestinian Authority (PA) recognized by Fatah and Hamas, should start the dialogue,” said Khaled al-Batsh, a Gaza-based leader for Islamic Jihad which has kept away from Hamas-Fatah power struggle.
He also suggested that a recent Yemeni initiative for factional reconciliation “can be a ground for a dialogue.”
The initiative calls on Hamas to give up its control on Gaza in exchange for talks with Fatah.
The situation in Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip, has deteriorated over the past days as an Israeli offensive on the Hamas-run enclave claimed lives of more than 120 Palestinians.
Israel says the operation was aimed at stopping the rocket attacks launched by armed groups from Gaza on southern Israeli communities.
President Abbas also called on the Palestinian militants to stop the rocket attacks on Israel to deny the Israeli side any pretext for the military offensive on Gaza.
However, the de facto Gaza ruler Hamas accuses the Ramallah-based government installed by Abbas of providing cover for the Israeli offensive.