GAZA CITY, 30 May 2006 — Palestinian factions were edging close to an agreement yesterday as a new round of talks hosted by President Mahmoud Abbas made significant progress, according to sources.
Aziz Dweik, the Hamas speaker of the Ramallah-based Parliament, told reporters after two hours of talks that he believed agreement on a common approach to a series of crises was within reach of his governing Islamist movement Hamas and Abbas’ own Fatah faction. “The dialogue has been taking place in a positive manner and the participants have made progress,” said Dweik.
“I think that we can reach an agreement within the 10 days laid down by President Abbas. That’s very possible.”
Another participant in the talks, independent MP Mustafa Barghouti, was also upbeat about the prospects of an agreement.
“The atmosphere was very positive and we are beginning to draw close to an agreement,” said Barghouti who was runner-up to Abbas in a presidential election last year.
Their comments came on the second day of talks of a so-called “higher committee” set up in the aftermath of a two-day conference in which leaders of the two factions aired their differences as well as appealed for unity.
Hamas and Fatah have been at loggerheads over control of the security forces as well as on the approach to the conflict with Israel.
While Abbas is committed to negotiating a final peace agreement with Israel, Hamas refuses to recognize the Jewish state or renounce violence — a stance which has led to the West imposing economic sanctions.
The Palestinian president dropped a political bombshell last Thursday when he announced that he would call a referendum in 10 days to endorse a program drawn up by imprisoned faction leaders unless Hamas and Fatah settled their differences.
The document at the center of the possible referendum advocates a national unity government and Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The United States and European Union demand that the Hamas group renounce violence and recognize Israel if it wants aid restored, but Hamas has refused.
Mushir Al-Masri, a Hamas lawmaker, said Hamas’ representative to the talks was unable to reach the meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah for a second straight day because of Israeli roadblocks.
Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command have asked to have the talks moved to Gaza because of the travel restrictions, Al-Masri said.
Abbas has said he plans to call a referendum on the proposal if no agreement is reached by the time the talks end on June 6. Hamas has reacted coolly to the ultimatum and signaled it will not honor the deadline.
In another development, Israeli soldiers yesterday caught two Palestinians with a bag of explosives after a three-hour foot chase in the West Bank, foiling an attack in Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel’s interior minister yesterday informed four Hamas legislators from East Jerusalem that they must renounce their membership in the Islamic group if they were to continue to have residency rights in Israel-controlled Jerusalem.
Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On issued the ultimatum to Mohammed Abu Teir, Ahmed Abu Atoun, Khaled Abu Arafa and Mahmoud Totach. “You will either resign or you won’t be with us,” Bar-On said in a Channel 2 TV interview. “The letters were delivered to them today, and they have 30 days to decide.”
Residents of East Jerusalem enjoy a wide range of social benefits including pension and health care. Israeli-issued identity cards grant them permanent residency in Jerusalem and freedom of movement in Israel.
The special arrangement is part of the conflict over Jerusalem. Israel captured the traditionally Arab sector in the 1967 war and annexed it a few weeks later. Israel offered citizenship to the Palestinians there, but few accepted. However, Israel gave ID cards to them that are almost identical to the ones Israeli citizens carry.
— With input from agencies
