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Last update - 20:53 26/03/2008 Arab League: Syria summit to adopt Yemen plan for Hamas-Fatah truce By News Agencies Tags: Yemen, Gaza Strip, Hamas  Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa announced Wednesday that Thursday's Arab summit in Damascus will adopt a Yemeni initiative aimed at ending disputes among the Palestinians. Moussa arrived in Damascus on Wednesday to join a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers to be held in the Syrian capital on Thursday. He is to attend the two-day convention of the summit on Saturday. "The Arab summit will adopt all the crucial and sensitive Arab issues, mainly issues related to the situation in Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan and the Palestinian territories," Moussa told a news conference. Advertisement Moussa confirmed that the Arab Summit, "which welcomed the Yemeni initiative of reconciliation, will adopt the initiative and will include a clause about it in the final statement of the summit." Asked if Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may not participate in the summit on Saturday because he is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Musa said "President Abbas will attend the summit." Fatah demands Hamas cede Gaza before reconciliation talks Abbas' Fatah faction on Wednesday, however, ruled out talks with Hamas unless the Islamist group first cedes control of Gaza, casting doubt on the Yemen-sponsored reconciliation push. Fatah and Hamas, which seized control of the coastal enclave last June, agreed in Yemen this week to revive direct talks after months of hostilities to "return the Palestinian situation to what it was before the Gaza incidents." But an apparent dispute quickly broke out. Hamas has said talks will start on April 5 while Abbas's office insisted the Islamist group must first relinquish control of the Gaza Strip. "We are ready to open a new chapter but the Palestinian condition remains unchanged, and that is a complete and a total reversal of the coup," Abbas's media adviser Nabil Amr told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "This is the final position of the Palestinian National Authority, of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and of Fatah." After the Gaza takeover, Abbas responded by sacking a Hamas-led unity government, arresting some supporters of the group and pursuing U.S.-backed peace talks with Israel - a move Hamas opposes. Hamas has repeatedly called for reconciliation talks with Fatah but has rejected Abbas's condition that it first give up control of the Gaza Strip, where 1.5 million Palestinians live. Hamas official Sami Abu Zurhi said Amr's comments on Wednesday effectively "wiped out" the Yemeni initiative and reflected the positions of Israel and the United States. Azzam Al-Ahmad, a senior Fatah leader, who signed the Yemeni proposal with Hamas, said his group had rejected efforts by Hamas to change the plan. Abu Zuhri said, however, the "Yemeni initiative stated clearly it was an initiative for dialogue between Hamas and Fatah" and not a list of items that must be implemented immediately. The dispute was certain to increase political tensions between the two groups and weaken hopes by ordinary Palestinians for a deal to end hostilities. "We will sit down with Hamas after they end the coup and after they stops saying that there is a government headed by Haniyeh," he said, referring to Hamas's leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh. Related articles: Qureia: Fatah signed reconciliation draft with Hamas due to mixup Palestinian billionaire launches movement to rival Fatah, Hamas Bookmark to del.icio.us   Best served cold Safed chief rabbi calls on state to exact 'revenge' against Arabs. The Jewish hurdle Obama: I disagree with aide who blamed 'NY, Miami' for failed peace talks.   1.   Elections first 14:14  |  Natallie Durson 26/03/08   2.   can abbas put his money where his mouth is ? 14:14  |  v hardman 26/03/08   3.   FACTS CANNOT BE CHANGED WITH FALSE PROPAGANDA, HATRED & IGNORANCE 15:01  |  READ THE FACTS 26/03/08   4.   The fight for the control of the PA. 15:02  |  Jean Van Daem 26/03/08   5.   Fatah is dead 15:14  |  Paulo 26/03/08   6.   First surrender and then talk peace 15:22  |  x-ray 26/03/08   7.   Fatah Demands From Hamas ect..!But Not To Recognise Israel ect... 15:56  |  Joseph . E 26/03/08   8.   World`s worst poker players 17:44  |  Clickfool 26/03/08   9.   The pals elected terrorists, then the terrorists seized 18:26  |  jj 26/03/08   10.   Ain`t going to happen yu quisling,better pack up and get out to 18:27  |  lakshmi 26/03/08   11.   #3 you are funy, I didn`t laugh for a long time and you just did. 22:28  |  Simon Mohammed 26/03/08   12.   What else can they talk about ? 00:46  |  Stephen. 27/03/08   13.   3. read . if seniority was valid in determining 02:50  |  bozhidar bob balkas 27/03/08

Today Online Rights group: Deaths in IDF W. Bank raid were apparent executions Responses: 98 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` Responses: 34 Ari Shavit: Olmert doesn't belong in the prime minister's office Responses: 7 Shmuel Rosner: Bush is now behaving like a responsible adult Responses: 9 Meron Benvenisti: Israel's environmental plans do not include Palestinian needs Responses: 6 Rosner's Domain Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? Kurtzer: The pro-Israel lobby, not obstacle for peace How many voters will abandon the Democratic Party? (WTR) Slight preference for Clinton among Jewish Democrats More Headlines 13:19 Defense officials: Hezbollah rockets can reach almost all of Israel 10:34 Rights group: Deaths in IDF Bethlehem raid were apparent executions 08:32 Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA 13:46 Syria urges Arab states to overcome differences at summit 11:51 Police seize 63 kilos of hashish, guns in Givat Shmuel apartment 13:57 MKs okay state-funded center commemorating Gaza settlers 10:53 Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack 08:45 Top rabbis: Harvesting organs of the brain dead is `bloodshed` 05:10 State program to tackle problem of polygamy in Bedouin community 06:24 MKs advance bill calling for new Orthodox-secular school system 09:42 Netanyahu calls for treasury to cut taxes and state budget 05:19 Bible club founded by Ben-Gurion gets revived with a Peres twist Previous Editions Select Day 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar

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