RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY, 20 June 2007 — Chances of Palestinian unity receded yesterday as Fatah decided to cut off all contacts with Hamas. In Washington, US President George W. Bush and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sought to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his battle with Hamas for primacy, calling him a moderate voice and the only true leader of the Palestinian people.

“The Fatah Central Committee decided not to hold any negotiations, dialogue or meetings with Hamas, until it puts an end to the military coup in the Gaza Strip. There will be no contacts between Fatah and Hamas at any level,” a statement released by the committee said.

Hamas has refused to recognize the newly installed Palestinian government led by Salam Fayyad. Yesterday it called on Arab governments to be neutral while dealing with the Palestinians and not to support one side at the expense of the other. The movement’s appeal came after Egypt said it has decided to move its diplomatic representation office from Gaza to the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Sami Abu Zuhri, the spokesman for Hamas, said at a news conference that his movement had no information about Egypt’s intention to move its diplomatic office to Ramallah. He said contacts were under way between Hamas leaders and the Egyptians in order to clarify the stance over the current situation.

Before the meeting at the White House, both Bush and Olmert spoke positively to reporters of the prospect for new talks between Abbas and the Israelis.

“I am going to make every possible effort to cooperate with him,” the prime minister said. Bush called Abbas “the president of all the Palestinians” and “a reasonable voice among the extremists.”

“Our hope is that President Abbas and Prime Minister (Salam) Fayyad — who’s a good fellow — will be strengthened to the point where they can lead the Palestinians in a different direction,” Bush said. Olmert said he would talk to Abbas, but spoke of several prerequisites for any progress toward peace. They included “a much more credible and serious administration” by the Palestinians, and one that will “fight terror in the most effective way,” he said. “This is not something that the Palestinians can escape,” Olmert said.

Israeli Environment Minister Gideon Ezra called for the release of imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti in order to strengthen the hands of Abbas. In an interview with Israel Radio, Ezra maintained that “Abbas is lacking in support.”

Referring to jailed senior Fatah leaders, many of whom enjoy wide support in the West Bank, the minister said: “If these people are in prison, they must be freed. I would have freed Barghouti a while ago. Abbas needs able leaders in addition to Salam Fayyad.”

Israel yesterday evacuated Palestinians wounded in Gaza fighting and in a shooting at the Erez border crossing, where dozens have been trapped for days. An Israeli military spokesman said about half a dozen Palestinians were taken to Israeli hospitals for treatment.

— Additional input from agencies