Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 09, 2008 Cheshvan 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 20:17 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate U.S. election Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 18:15 08/11/2008
Hamas deputy blames Abbas for breakdown in Palestinian reconciliation talks
By News Agencies
Tags: Fatah, Palestinians 

A senior Hamas official in Syria on Saturday announced that his group would boycott this weekend's Palestinian reconciliation talks with rival Fatah.

Deputy Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk blamed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for the talks' collapse. He said the group's decision to stay away was taken after Fatah failed to release Palestinian prisoners from its jails.

The talks were to start in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday. The two feuding sides were expected to discuss forming a joint government, rebuilding security forces and setting a date for presidential and legislative elections.
Advertisement
Abu Marzouk told The Associated Press that Fatah had reneged on a pledge to release Hamas prisoners it holds ahead of the dialogue, prompting the boycott. He acknowledged that many issues had been settled but that "the prisoners issue was too important to disregard."

"Going there (to the talks) is not a target in itself. The target is to reunite Palestinian groups," Abou Marzouk said. He also said Egypt's vision for reconciliation "does not represent the Hamas point of view." He did not elaborate.

The Fatah delegation, already in the Egyptian capital on the eve of the talks, expressed shock at Hamas' decision.

"This decision is unwise ... it shows that Hamas doesn't want a solution. I think that the consequences will be very dangerous," said Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a member of the Fatah team in Cairo. "We are shocked by this decision. It shows that Hamas is irresponsible when it comes to the fate of the Palestinian people."

Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said Hamas's decision to boycott was backed by other countries in the region who aim to block Egypt's reconciliation effort -- hinting at Hamas supporters Syria and Iran.

Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh said Hamas' pretext for staying away was "unacceptable."

Hamas reportedly wants the release of some 500 Palestinians it says Fatah is holding in its jails.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki confirmed to AP the talks had been canceled because of the Hamas boycott and said a statement would be issued soon.

An Egyptian security official said Egypt turned back at the Rafah border crossing with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip some 35 representatives of various Palestinian factions who were about to enter Egypt to take part in the talks after they had been canceled. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal had said last week that his group was eager for national reconciliation and voiced support for the Cairo talks. But he also told reporters during a visit to Beirut that there were still obstacles.

Several rounds of power-sharing talks have failed since Hamas won parliament elections in 2006.

Fatah and Hamas have been at odds since the Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Following the takeover, Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led government from his base in the West Bank and formed a new administration excluding the more radical group.

Officials of other Damascus-based groups including Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command said they would also stay away from the talks.

Anwar Raja of the PFLP-FC said the Egyptian sponsors were biased.

"I think that the consequences will be very dangerous," said Abdel Rahman, the Fatah spokesman. "There is no issue that cannot be solved by dialogue."

Related articles:
  • Hamas likely to boycott Egypt bid to reconcile Palestinian factions
  • Fatah: Hamas arrests dozens of our activists in Gaza
  • ANALYSIS / Both Fatah and Hamas are avoiding blame
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Expecting change
    Hamas leader Meshal says Obama has no choice but to talk to group.
    Kosher Kiwi
    New Zealand elects a Jewish and conservative Prime Minister.
      1.   The usual gang of idiots 14:07  |  Yonatan 08/11/08
      2.   What "reconciliation"? 14:10  |  Yonatan 08/11/08
      3.   no real intention 18:52  |  independent Gazan 08/11/08
      4.   Maybe this will be the start of something constructive ... 21:23  |  Jasper 08/11/08
      5.   Hamas will try to do in WB what they did in Gaza.... 20:13  |  r 09/11/08
     Read & React
    Amira Hass: Haniyeh willing to accept Palestine with 1967 borders
    Responses: 211
    Gideon Levy: Let's hope Obama won't be a 'friend of Israel'
    Responses: 151
    At Rabin memorial, Barak calls right-wing extremists 'cancerous growths'
    Responses: 108
    Iran slams Obama's tough language on nuclear arms
    Responses: 129
    Syria President: Israel is not genuine about peace
    Responses: 42


    More Headlines
    19:24 Hamas: No room to implement long-term truce with Israel
    17:44 Barak: Israel should consider firing back at Qassam launchers
    19:56 'Anti-Semitism must never be given an opportunity in Europe again,' says German chancellor
    16:04 Livni: We see the need for a Palestine, as long as it's not a terror state
    20:11 Elderly Palestinian couple evicted from East Jerusalem home despite U.S. protest
    15:58 Syria President: Israel is not genuine about peace
    17:16 Former Chief Rabbi Lau named as chair of Yad Vashem council
    16:28 Once again, monks come to blows at Church of Holy Sepulcher
    15:07 Global financial storms threaten empire of Jewish billionaire, philanthropist Adelson
    01:48 Gideon Levy / Let's hope Obama won't be a 'friend of Israel'
    07:33 Amira Hass / How we busted the naval siege on Gaza
    08:26 Settlers deny Palestinian claim Hebron boy, 6, beaten with rock
    12:00 ANALYSIS / When Hamas boycotts Palestinian unity talks, what does it mean?
    19:31 Policeman who shot Palestinian dead in Jaffa given year in jail
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Dan Boutique Jerusalem
    New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online!
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
    and get all your money back
    US CITIZENS
    Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved