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Last update - 16:26 05/06/2008 Report: Abbas to meet Meshal in bid to renew Fatah-Hamas dialogue By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press Tags: Fatah, Khaled Meshal  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet in the coming weeks with top Hamas official Khaled Meshal in Damascus, a Lebanese daily reported on Thursday. On Wednesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the first time for renewed dialogue with Hamas without demanding the militant Islamic group first relinquish control of Gaza. Referring to the latest attempt to bridge the rift, he called for "national dialogue to implement the Yemeni initiative in all its elements, to end the internal division that harms our people, [our] cause," Abbas made the comments in a broadcast speech to his people on Wednesday evening. Advertisement In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu welcomed the call for talks. "We welcome this call by the President Abbas to launch a national dialogue, and we consider it a positive step," he said. Abbas said if the talks succeed, I will call for new legislative and presidential elections. Abbas won an election to succeed Yasser Arafat, who died in 2004, but Hamas swept his Fatah Part out of power in a 2006 election. Abbas' speech came a year after Hamas seized control of Gaza by force, ousting his security forces. In response, Abbas fired the Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, and appointed a government of moderates in the West Bank. Since then, Hamas has become increasingly entrenched in Gaza, despite a sweeping international boycott that kept Gaza's borders virtually closed and drove the territory's 1.4 million residents deeper into poverty. Over the past year there have been several efforts, notably by Egypt, to repair the rift between the two rivals, but to no avail. Related articles: Arab League: Syria summit to adopt Yemen plan for Hamas-Fatah truce Qureia: Fatah signed reconciliation draft with Hamas due to mixup Fatah delegates to leave Yemen without Hamas deal Bookmark to del.icio.us   A staunch ally Obama to AIPAC: I'll do everything to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes. Pro-Israel Nazis German group condemns anti-Semitism, says Holocaust 'unjustifiable.'   1.   a united palestinian front... 16:59  |  tim 05/06/08

Read & React Obama tells AIPAC: Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided capital Responses: 177 German neo-Nazis: We're pro-Israel and we condemn anti-Semitism Responses: 105 Olmert: We're close to stopping Iran's nuclear program Responses: 63 U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh Responses: 63 Israeli killed in Negev mortar strike; Gazan girl dies in IAF attack Responses: 59 Rosner's Domain It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear Guest: Inmarriage is not racism, but self preservation AIPAC: Cheering toughness, silent on peace Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? Israel, Don't Undermine Beirut (WTR) More Headlines 16:20 Israeli killed in Negev mortar strike; Gazan girl, 4, dies in IAF attack 12:19 Olmert: We're close to stopping Iran's nuclear program 10:07 Obama to AIPAC: Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided capital 16:46 Assad: Israel's terms for talks signal they're not serious about peace 16:43 Israeli Arab doctors mull founding Arab-only HMO 11:08 U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh 17:03 Blair: Use N. Ireland lessons to resolve Mideast conflict 11:56 Interpol suspects Brazilian Jewish community hid rabbi wanted for child abuse 15:13 Clinton to end presidential run, announce support for Obama 15:31 Witnesses: Palestinian man killed by IDF fire in Hebron 15:54 Officials: Hamas seizes control of Gaza water agency working with Blair 15:22 It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear 17:05 Trial of accused 9/22 attack plotters opens in Guantanamo Bay Previous Editions Select Day 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may

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