Special report:
Palestine-Israel
Relations
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (2nd L) is greeted by police during a visit to the Hamas security forces headquarters in Gaza City July 7, 2008. (Chinese media/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery
By Saud Abu Ramadan
GAZA, July 13 (Chinese media) -- So far, the situation in
the Gaza Strip remains the same, nothing has changed in the issue of resuming
the dialogue between the two rival movements, Fatah and Hamas, although dozens
of local and Arab initiatives were presented to both movements to end their
differences.
Leaders of the two movements, as well as leaders of
other factions and political groups release daily statements, stressing on the
fact that if the dialogue is resumed, it will lead to a breakthrough in the
inter-Palestinian situation and to an end to the current crisis.
For ordinary Palestinians, who became the victims of
such differences that affected their daily life, it became a dream for them to
see the leaders of the two movements sitting together on one table to discuss
ending their disputes.
Palestinian analysts described the current situation
between the two big and popular Palestinian movements and their leaders' daily
statements on resuming the dialogue as "the speech of the deaf."
"Every leader from both rival movements makes daily
statements saying that resuming the dialogue is vital for the Palestinian people
to get out of the current crisis and end the status of inter-division," said
Talal Oukal, a Palestinian analysts from Gaza.
He added "but unfortunately no one of them has the
ability to carry out the next brave step, take the initiative, setup a date and
call for the two movements' leaders to meet immediately and start talks."
"If such a step is carried out, it will break a huge
mountain of ice and would for sure lead to an improvement in the internal
Palestinian situation and big part of the daily living crisis would be
resolved," said Oukal.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) was founded
in Gaza in December 1987. It became so popular and earned a huge Palestinian
popular support following a series of suicide bombing attacks it carried out
over the past 20 years, until it had overwhelmingly won the elections of 2006.
After it won the elections and defeated President
Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement in Gaza and West Bank, it formed a government and
formed a special executive force in Gaza that challenged Abbas security forces.
Following months of fighting in Gaza, Hamas finally
defeated Abbas security forces and his Fatah movement's militias and took
control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year. Gaza takeover complicated the
situation and made the possibility of getting back to the negotiation table
impossible.
Fatah movement conditioned the resumption of dialogue
with ending Gaza takeover, a request that is still rejected by Hamas, which
insists that the parties should first sit on the table and then discuss all
outstanding issues.
But then President Abbas presented an initiative in
June 4 and called on Hamas movement to immediately launch a comprehensive
dialogue that end the status of inter-division between Gaza Strip which is ruled
and controlled by Hamas and the West Bank, which is ruled and controlled by
Abbas.
Abbas explained that the resumption of dialogue
should be based on an initiative of reconciliation presented by Yemen several
months ago. The Yemeni initiative also called on Hamas to end its Gaza takeover,
form a national unity government, rebuilt the security apparatuses and prepare
for holding early presidential and legislative elections.
Ahmed Abdel Rahman, Fatah movement's spokesman in
Ramallah accused Hamas that it hasn't so far accepted the Yemeni initiative and
also hasn't seriously considered the initiative of President Abbas on resuming
dialogue.
Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza said that the
initiative of Abbas which called for resuming the dialogue is not serious
"because there is an American and Israeli veto on resuming the dialogue with
Hamas."
"It seems that the two sides will remain forever just
making statements on the dialogue and trade accusations on who is the party
which is responsible for obstructing the resumption of the dialogue," said Nabil
Khatab, a Palestinian academic from Gaza.
He added that while they (Fatah and Hamas) are still
having the same situation without making a dramatic change, the Palestinian
people will be the only party that will keep suffering and the Palestinian life
would keep deteriorating."
Khatab said that if there will be reconciliation
between Fatah and Hamas, Egypt and the Europeans would coordinate with both
Hamas and Abbas and open Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
"If the two parties achieve reconciliation, the West
Bank and Gaza Strip will be united and the Palestinians will live a better life
than such a situation that makes their life a nightmare," said Khatab.
Fatah official calls on Hamas to resume
dialogue
RAMALLAH, July 13 (Chinese media) -- Palestinian Fatah movement's
spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman on Sunday called on the Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas) to remove all the obstacles that obstruct the resumption of the national
dialogue. Full story
Islamic Jihad criticizes Hamas for not coordinating over
ceasefire
GAZA, July 13 (Chinese media) -- Islamic Jihad movement on Sunday
criticized Islamic Hamas movement for not consulting with the Palestinian
factions when Israel violated Gaza ceasefire. Full story
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