国际英语新闻：Hamas, Fatah may hold 2nd meeting for reconciliation in Damascus

RAMALLAH/GAZA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A senior Fatah official said Sunday that the second round of meeting for reaching an inter- Palestinian reconciliation deal with Islamic Hamas movement might be held in Syria's capital of Damascus next week.

Azzam al-Ahmad, chief of the Fatah delegation to talk with Hamas and the party's central committee member told "voice of Palestine" Radio that the meeting with Hamas "might be held in Damascus following indirect contacts with the Syrians to overcome a dispute with (Palestinian National Authority) President Mahmoud Abbas."

Abbas and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad traded arguments during a semi-Arab summit held on Oct. 10 in the Libyan City of Sirte due to decide on the fate of the direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians started on Sept. 2 in Washington.

"We in Fatah movement are keen for keeping good ties with the Syrian leadership, therefore we hope that the dispute with Syria will be resolved soon. If we manage to overcome the crisis, I believe that the meeting will be held in Damascus, and if not it will be held in another place," al-Ahmad said.

During the first meeting, leaders of Hamas and Fatah agreed to continue the second round of talks in Damascus on Oct. 20. But it was postponed after Hamas rejected Fatah's request to move the meeting to another Arab capital.

The two rival groups managed in their first meeting to overcome two outstanding issues that pave the road for signing a reconciliation deal in Cairo. They agreed on the issues of elections and reforming Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and left the issue of security for the second meeting.

Salah al-Bardaweel, a senior Hamas movement official, said in a written press statement sent to reporters earlier on Saturday that Hamas agreed with Fatah to hold a meeting next week to discuss security arrangements within the framework of the Egyptian pact to reach an inter-reconciliation agreement.

Abbas has said that the notes of all the Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, will be considered after they sign on the Egyptian pact of reconciliation which was drafted last year and implemented it.

However, Egypt decided to postpone the Palestinian dialogue after Hamas who kept reservations on some articles refused to sign on the reconciliation pact.

Meanwhile, deposed Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said Sunday that his movement is ready to reconcile with Fatah.

"Our hands are extended for reconciliation," Haneya said. The reconciliation would end political split between the Gaza Strip, took over by Hamas by force in 2007, and the Fatah-ruled West Bank.

Meanwhile, Haneya criticized the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) for receiving aid and cash from the international community "in exchange for political stances."

He also warned the PNA not to go ahead with negotiations with Israel, saying the talks would eventually lead to the Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.