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Hamas barring Fatah men from West Bank summit
By Avi Issacharoff
Tags: West Bank, Israel News, Hamas 

Hundreds of Fatah members from Gaza may be unable to attend the organization's internal election next month because Hamas is refusing to allow them to travel to the West Bank.

The 400-odd Gazans want to go to Bethlehem, where they would be among 1,550 Fatah officials voting to elect the organization's leadership. But Hamas has announced it will not allow them to attend until "the issue of political arrests in the West Bank is resolved" - meaning, until Hamas men are released from Palestinian Authority prisons.

Hamas top official Mahmoud al-Zahar announced the travel ban was being imposed on the Fatah officials.
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According to some uncorroborated reports, the Palestinian Authority is considering renewing talks with Israel after the vote, which would be Fatah's sixth General Assembly election.

Senior Fatah members have said the conference could not be held if the 400 Gazan members are barred from attending, and therefore proposed postponing the meeting until Hamas and Fatah solve the matter.

Analysts say that by barring the 400 Fatah members from leaving Gaza, Hamas is hoping to weaken its rival.

Reconciliatory talks between Hamas and Fatah are planned for August 25, but it remains unclear whether they will take place.

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