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Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin. (Archives)
Last update - 17:34 30/09/2006
Report: Diskin holds secret talks with Arab intelligence heads
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent

The Arabic-language London-based newspaper Al-Quds reported on Saturday that a secret meeting between Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin and intelligence officials from several moderate Middle Eastern states took place recently in Jordan.

According to the report, the meeting was held in order to discuss the confrontation with the extreme Middle Eastern states and how to handle the threat of terror.

The newspaper reports that the participants in the secret meeting included Diskin, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, a senior Jordanian official, head of Jordan's General Intelligence Department Mohammed al-Dahabi, Head of Egyptian intelligence General Omar Suleiman as well as senior officials from two Persian Gulf states that do not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel.

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During the meeting, Abbas reportedly presented Diskin an agreement he had reached with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on a Palestinian unity government. However, he explained, two days after the agreement was reached, Haniyeh announced that the Hamas party, headed by Haniyeh, demanded the modification of a clause on the recognition of the Arab peace initiative.

According to the report, representatives from Egypt, Jordan and one of the Gulf states expressed reservations over the appointment of Haniyeh or any other Hamas member to head the potential Palestinian unity government.

They also demanded of Abbas that the platform of the unity government include the conditions set by the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - such as the recognition of Israel and the honoring of past agreements made between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Al-Quds reports that Abbas expressed his dissatisfaction with recent efforts to secure the release of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas-linked militants. Abbas said too many parties were involved in mediation efforts, which reportedly included Turkey, Norway and Spain.

Abbas reportedly demanded of all present at the meeting that all efforts to secure Shalit's release be conducted in tandem with Hamas leadership in the Palestinian Authority, and that all contact with Hamas leadership in Syria, namely exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, be stopped.

The Al-Quds report has so far not been corroborated by any other source.

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  1.   EGYPT, JORDAN AND SAUDI REGIMES ... OR THE ILLS OF THE ARAB WORLD 13:16  |  Messaoud 30/09/06
  2.   It is heartening to see additional Arab government collaborating 14:26  |  Shlomzion 30/09/06
  3.   its ineluctable, all the above regimes will disapear 15:40  |  Moise 30/09/06
  4.   To 1, M 15:52  |  Jozef 30/09/06
  5.   #2 shlomzion 19:58  |  Realistic Arab 30/09/06
  6.   the three stooges 19:59  |  ravi inder singh 30/09/06
  7.   Beirut Declaration 20:18  |  Ernie 30/09/06
  8.   shhhhhhhhhhhhh 22:19  |  vik 30/09/06
  9.   Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Regimes 00:12  |  Hope 01/10/06
  10.   shelomzion 00:17  |  hope 01/10/06
  11.   To Josef 00:19  |  Hope 01/10/06
  12.   Re #1 Messaoud 04:14  |  Vitttorio 01/10/06
  13.   peace through strength 04:21  |  David 01/10/06
  14.   Ravi and his 3 stooges 04:22  |  JW 01/10/06
  15.   t is heartening to see additional Arab government collaborating 06:49  |  Eldar 01/10/06
  16.   Eldar, Muslim must understand that here is Israel not Arab countr 08:49  |  Aby 01/10/06
  17.   Eldar 12:05  |  Celine 01/10/06
  18.   to Aby 12:37  |  Eldar 01/10/06
  19.   to Celine 12:38  |  eldar 01/10/06
  20.   Messaoud`s demented ramblings 14:24  |  Steve A 01/10/06
  21.   History 15:27  |  Gavin 01/10/06
  22.   does anyone else find this oxymoronic? 21:31  |  SD 01/10/06
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