Hamas, Fatah to renew talks on unity government

Gaza, Aug 16: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of the militant Hamas group, today said they would renew negotiations to form a unity government that might ease international isolation.

Similar talks broke down in February between officials from Abbas's Fatah faction, Hamas and other groups over Hamas's refusal to accept peace deals between the Palestinians and Israel that would imply recognition of the Jewish state.

After defeating Fatah in a January election, Hamas formed a government mostly of its own members, prompting the suspension of foreign aid and plunging the Palestinian Authority into international isolation.

''The consultations and the contacts to achieve this goal (of a unity government) will begin from this moment,'' Abbas said after meeting Haniyeh.

Haniyeh said: ''It was agreed to begin the consultations to form this government ... to strengthen national unity and to lift the siege on the Palestinian people and alleviate the suffering.'' ''I am hopeful that these consultations will be fruitful and will achieve the desired goals,'' he added.

Abbas said he hoped a coalition deal would lead Hamas to soften its positions and to a renewal of global aid.

Prison Document

Last June, after inter-factional fighting that heightened fears of civil war, Hamas and Fatah negotiated a unity agreement based on a document drafted by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. But differences remained between the two factions over recognition of Israel and neither Abbas nor Hamas pursued unity moves.

Hamas is dedicated to destroying Israel and spearheaded a suicide bombing campaign during a 2000 uprising.

The group has also said a unity government could be formed only after Israel freed Hamas cabinet ministers and lawmakers it detained in the West Bank after Gaza militants, some from Hamas, abducted an Israeli soldier on June 25 in a cross-border raid.

The attack prompted Israel to launch its first offensive against militants in the Gaza Strip since withdrawing from the territory last year.

One Fatah official who asked not to be identified said unity negotiations would likely fail unless Hamas changed its stance on Israel.

''We need a government that is accepted not only by the Palestinian people but also by the international community -- one capable of ending the international siege and boycott and the suffering of the Palestinian people,'' the official said.

Placing a potential obstacle to a unity government, Hamas officials have demanded any governing Palestinian coalition be led by a Hamas member, a move unlikely to please world powers or Israel.

Retuers