Hamas says it will consider renewing cease-fire dialogue
By <a href="mailto:arnonr@haaretz.co.il" class="tUbl2">Arnon Regular</a>
The Hamas organization yesterday announced it was prepared to study the proposal put forward by Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to renew the talks on stopping attacks against Israelis.
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A flyer put out yesterday by the Hamas leadership in Gaza stated: "We will study Abu Mazen's call for a dialogue while bearing in mind the interests of our nation, its rights, the strengthening of national unity, and first and foremost the question of the prisoners, the right of return, Jerusalem and an end to the occupation."
This is the first time in the past few days that the organization has publicly stated its readiness to renew the dialogue, but at the same time it accused Abu Mazen of duplicity in his dealings with Hamas. "The Abu Mazen government has spoken in two voices. On the one hand, it has addressed the Hamas behind closed doors in one way, and on the other hand has given Bush and Sharon sweeping commitments that harm the Palestinian nation and its principles," the flyer read.
The Hamas statement was preceded by a veiled threat made by Abbas during a press conference yesterday morning in el-Bireh near Ramallah. "I stand fast on the principle that dialogue is the best way to achieve a cease-fire, but we cannot force anyone to sit down and talk. Those who refuse to renew the dialogue will be responsible for the results," Abbas said.
Turning to criticism from all sectors of the Palestinian public about his statements at the recent Aqaba summit, Abbas said: "The Aqaba speech ... was coordinated with Yasser Arafat." He said the Aqaba commitments would be shown to the Palestinian parliament. "We are negotiating the establishment of a Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem, and a solution to the refugee problem and other issues for a final settlement. The Israelis tried to take the refugee issue off the agenda but we rejected this attempt unequivocally. I am trying to end the suffering of the Palestinian people."
Turning to Arafat's position, he said: "Arafat will continue to head the PA and to supervise the Palestinian struggle and the establishment of the state. We call for an end to the political siege and we shall continue to fight to put an end to the harsh conditions in which our president, the Nobel Prize winner, finds himself."
One of the Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud a-Zahar, said later that Hamas was pleased with Abbas' call to renew the dialogue. However, he expressed disapproval of what he called "Abu Mazen's attempts to cast aspersions on the movement's intentions." He said: "Attempts are being made to put words into our mouths that we did not say. I ask, what will Hamas have to negotiate about, if it is not allowed to join the security forces or the PA's ministerial positions?
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