Israelis said to be mediating between Hamas and Fatah - Haaretz

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Sun., August 26, 2007 Elul 12, 5767

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		A Hamas gunman standing on the roof of a Fatah security compound in Gaza City after it was captured in June. (AP)

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Last update - 17:15 26/08/2007

Israelis said to be mediating between Hamas and Fatah

By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

The London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Sunday that Israeli mediators are involved in efforts to reconcile rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.

The southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, headed by MK Sheikh Ibrahim Sarsur, is involved in the mediation efforts, according to the report.

The newspaper also reported that the Hamas leadership is considering an initiative proposing it hand back Gaza Strip security compounds seized from Fatah in June in order to achieve reconciliation with the rival group.

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Hamas ousted Fatah forces from control of civil and security institutions in a bloody takeover of Gaza two months ago.

The initiative was said to be formulated by Palestinian sources in the private sector whose identities are currently unknown. It also reportedly suggests Hamas return to Fatah all civil institutions over which the militant group wrested control. The sources also passed on their recommendations to Fatah.

The newspaper said Hamas is "studying" the initiative.

These recommendations come after Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' assertion that there will be no negotiations with Hamas before the situation in Gaza is returned to its state before what he termed the "military coup" there.

Following Hamas' Gaza takeover, Abbas formed a new Fatah-dominated government in the West Bank, excluding Hamas representation. That government has been embraced by the international community while Hamas has remained largely isolated in Gaza.

Asharq Al-Awsat reported that the private sector initiative aims to establish a joint Fatah-Hamas government of technocrats for the PA. This would come after Hamas relinquishing its Gaza conquests.

The coalition government would pursue reforms within the PA, one of which would be the reduction of its various security bodies to only three organizations - a recommendation that has been previously made by Palestinian and foreign sources, but up to now not implemented.

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1.	Equitable & practical plan to sort out Hamas & end the occupation	10:49	\|	Uzi	26/08/07

2.	ahwan filistyun	11:21	\|	Fawaz	26/08/07

3.	Hamas is in a self created cage and should remain there!	14:14	\|	redmike	26/08/07

4.	Fawaz is right.	15:11	\|	Ken	26/08/07

5.	Fawaz, ya ahi, I am with you. Our "leaders" have	16:02	\|	Samir	26/08/07

6.	1 to 5,it`s not going to happen! Dream on,as for fawaz he is	16:20	\|	lakshmi	26/08/07

7.	Islam is the only way	16:22	\|	The Future	26/08/07

8.	Fawaz I am also with you	16:31	\|	Harris	26/08/07

9.	On a second thought, I do think both Fawaz and Samir are	16:33	\|	lakshmi	26/08/07

10.	I suspect "Fawaz" and "Samir" are not real	16:49	\|	PW	26/08/07

11.	Khaled Meshaal: "We didn`t take Gaza so we can return it."	17:19	\|	Khalid	26/08/07

12.	PW # 10, I disagree with you	17:22	\|	Khalid Khadouri	26/08/07

13.	Will mediation take place	17:43	\|	Arvin	26/08/07

14.	Only the jews turn back land in Middle East	17:43	\|	Alain	26/08/07

15.	11Khalid,I`m skeptical about this report,quite apart from Mishal	17:58	\|	lakshmi	26/08/07

16.	LAKSHMI AND SELF DETERMINATION	18:01	\|	Brant	26/08/07

17.	To "The Future"	18:10	\|	Pedro	26/08/07

18.	7The Future,I am not a religious person but I do respect	19:14	\|	lakshmi	26/08/07

19.	Egypt & Jordan	19:26	\|	Nechama	26/08/07

20.	so Hamas can just walk into the West Bank...	19:47	\|	Avi	26/08/07

21.	Al-Qeda looks good to Lakshmi and #7 too	20:02	\|	Avi	26/08/07

22.	Let Hamas stay in the Gaza Reservation & Terrorist Preserve	20:19	\|	Shepherd	26/08/07

23.	21Avi,since you have not read the Muslim Brotherhood`s draft	20:48	\|	lakshmi	26/08/07

24.	lakshmi, if you have nothing new to say,	22:54	\|	17	26/08/07

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