Ministers to discuss proposal on Palestinian crisis

Videos
Photos

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-18 23:03

GAZA -- There is a trend to form an Arab ministerial committee to discuss any Egyptian proposal to end the Palestinian political crisis before putting it forward to the Arab League, a source from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Thursday.

The source said Arab officials told Hamas about this idea and the committee will include ministers from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Syria and Lebanon.

Egypt mediates between the feuding Palestinian factions, especially Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah, and plans to launch a Palestinian dialogue to settle the differences.

The idea of forming this committee came after Hamas expressed fears that Egypt will be affected with the views of the Palestinian factions which support Fatah.

Egypt has been listening to the factions of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and other new groups on how to end Hamas-Fatah differences and the Palestinian split between Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The political split occurred when Hamas took over Gaza Strip by force last year after routing pro-Abbas forces. Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza while Abbas consolidated his power in the West Bank.

Hamas sources say that the factions' views, which were presented to Cairo, agree with Abbas' vision that says Hamas must give up its control in Gaza first before holding any dialogue.

If the Arab League adopted the committee, "this will assure Hamas," the source said.

Fatah will send its leaders to meet the Egyptian mediators at the end of this month and Hamas delegation will visit Cairo on October 8.

Egypt's call for the start of the national Palestinian dialogue is subject to the results of its meetings with Hamas and Fatah.