Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 10, 2007 Tevet 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:44 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Hamas political chief Khaled Meshal (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 19:18 10/12/2007 Saudis welcome Meshal in bid to broker new Hamas-Fatah talks By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Fatah, Saudi Arabia, Egypt  Saudi Arabia and Egypt are pushing Hamas and Fatah to meet in an effort to resolve the deep rift in the Palestinian movements, as Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal visits Riyadh this week. Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha said that Meshal, who arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, would meet with senior Saudi officials to update them on the status of contact between Fatah and Hamas, which of late, has reached a dead-end. A Fatah leader in the West Bank, Hatham Abed al-Kadr, said Sunday that Egypt has been in contact recently with Fatah and Hamas officials in attempt to bring the two sides for a meeting in Cairo after the culmination of the Eid al-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice) in about two weeks. Advertisement According to al-Kadr, the Egyptian mediation was aimed at opening negotiations between Hamas and Fatah. Fayad Sayam, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, said Sunday night that there have been a few meetings of late between representatives of the two groups, though none has yielded results. Hamas spokesman Taha said his organization welcome the Saudi efforts to solve the internal Palestinian crisis, adding that Hamas was ready for early negotiations without conditions in order to bring an end to the schism. Last week, Egypt and Saudi Arabia arranged with Israel to allow some 2,000 Palestinians from Gaza to go to Saudi Arabia via the Kerem Shalom and Allenby Bridge border crossings for the hajj celebrations. The Palestinian Authority, which had invested huge efforts in organizing the pilgrims' trip to Saudi Arabia in a bid to improve President Mahmoud Abbas' status in the Gaza Strip, was enraged when it learned that Egypt and Saudi Arabia had coordinated the exits with Hamas via the Rafah crossing. Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's adviser Ahmed Yusef told Haaretz that he sent a rare letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declaring that Hamas was interested in opening dialogue with the U.S. and the European Union. He said political parties would be required to reveal their sources of funding, and provide details on their activists. The ministers did not refer to Hamas by name. However, the Islamic militant group is receiving millions of dollars in support from abroad, including money from Iran and donations to Hamas-linked charitie The Palestinian government in the West Bank discussed Monday a bill that would require political parties to obtain licenses, two cabinet ministers said. Such a law could target the Islamic militant Hamas, which seized control of Gaza by force in June. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denounced the idea. "We don't need a license from anyone," he said. The proposed legislation was discussed Monday by the government appointed by Hamas' rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. In recent months, the West Bank government has increasingly moved against Hamas, arresting hundreds of activists, outlawing Hamas-linked charities and cutting off funds. Prisoner Affairs Minister Ashraf Ajrami said the law "wants to organize the existing factions and new ones ... to they would be able to obtain a license." Planning Minister Samir Abdullah said the bill is still being studied, and hasn't been approved by the cabinet yet. "This law is going to affect all factions and movements," he said. Palestinian factions are not registered and work randomly. This law is going to organize things." He said political parties would be required to reveal their sources of funding, and provide details on their activists. The ministers did not refer to Hamas by name. However, the Islamic militant group is receiving millions of dollars in support from abroad, including money from Iran and donations to Hamas-linked charities. Related articles: PA miffed at Egyptian-Saudi deal with Hamas over hajj pilgrims Israel buses hundreds of Palestinians to Egypt for Mecca hajj At least six killed after Hamas opens fire on Arafat rally in Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us Talking too much Censor: IDF officers provided the press with classified information during the war. Intelligent estimate? Rosner's Domain analyzes the U.S. intelligence estimate on Iran's nuclear program.   1.   Maan News reports that the PA has stepped up its attacks on 13:50  |  lakshmi 10/12/07   2.   U.S. and Israel: Where are your friends? 15:08  |  David James Vickery 10/12/07   3.   The New York Times reported Thursday. 15:22  |  Joseph E . 10/12/07   4.   VICKERY`S VIEW 15:49  |  Brant 10/12/07   5.   By now it is clear, Israel must insist: 15:58  |  Yehudah Israeli 10/12/07   6.   #1 lakshmi ....Hamas will bend or it will break 16:08  |  Lynn 10/12/07   7.   Hamas is weak and desperate 16:29  |  Conroy 10/12/07   8.   6Lynn,not so fast,militants have threatened that should an 16:45  |  lakshmi 10/12/07   9.   LAKSHMI AND OUTRAGE 16:58  |  Brant 10/12/07   10.   #9 - Stupidity Cuts Both Ways 17:41  |  DoubleClick 10/12/07   11.   LIKE A CANDLE! 17:59  |  Veni Vidi 10/12/07   12.   #10: PERHAPS NOT 18:08  |  Brant 10/12/07   13.   #12 - Misleading 19:11  |  DoubleClick 10/12/07   14.   Double Click,the israeli Illegal Presence in land allocated to 19:32  |  lakshmi 10/12/07   15.   ...get the UN General Assembly to set up an International 19:35  |  lakshmi 10/12/07   16.   #13: NO MISLEADING 20:15  |  Brant 10/12/07   17.   The Saudis are irrelevant, Iran must be talked to 20:54  |  Saudi Pig 10/12/07   18.   To S.P. 23:27  |  David James Vickery 10/12/07

Today Online Burston: Hamas - If we can kill them, we can talk to them Responses: 102 Russia said trying to lure Russian olim back home Responses: 160 Akiva Eldar: Building in E. J'lem undermines spirit of Annapolis Responses: 129 Religious party leader: Same-sex families undermine Judaism Responses: 56 Military censor: IDF revealed classified data during war Responses: 28 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Jeff Ballabon on the indivisibility of Jerusalem Jervis & Cohen discuss the flaws of the Iran NIE The CIA's brain drain (WTR) Poll: Who's your Democratic favorite for 2008? More Headlines 23:24 Sarkozy hosts Netanyahu, backs new UN sanctions on Iran 20:28 Germany frees Iranian whose release was tied to info on Ron Arad 21:48 Censor: IDF revealed classified data during Second Lebanon War 23:22 Ex-J'lem Post publisher Conrad Black gets 6.5 years in jail for fraud 18:28 Egypt uncovers 500 kilograms of explosives in northern Sinai 19:10 Heirs of Holocaust victims could claim up to NIS 200M in assets 19:04 Olmert vows to 'forge historic path' toward peace with Palestinians 21:42 UN calls for action to end fuel shortage aggravating Gaza health crisis 23:21 Rights group asks Mazuz to halt probe into Druze MK who visited Syria Previous Editions Select Day 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov

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