Operations and declarations from both Fatah and Hamas were burying any possible or real opportunity for dialogue between them, and have increased the process of political and geographical separation between the Gaza Strip and The West Bank, thus delaying any future reconciliation between both parties, unless there is a powerful Arab intervention at the highest levels.
President Mahmoud Abbas announced during his visit to Cairo on 27/7/2008 the commencement of a dialogue for reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, to be managed by Egypt under the auspice of the Arab League in Cairo. Abbas announced the readiness of Fatah for unconditional dialogue and reconciliation on 5/6/2008 and he added from Cairo that all Palestinian factions were intivited to participate in such a dialogue, and he continued saying that he gave his instructions to release all Hamas activists on the West Bank. However, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri claimed that the initiative by President Mahmoud Abbas was not genuine, and was only started to cover the alleged bombings and other such acts carried out by Fatah in Gaza.
During an important meeting between King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Egyptian president Mubarak held in Egypt ( Alexandria) on 15/08/2008, most of the discussions and talks between the two leaders were addressed to the Palestinian internal conflict and the dialogue between Fatah and Hamas. (Al-Ahram newspaper 16/8/2008).
A meeting of Arab foreign ministers held at the Arab League in Cairo on 8/9/2008, attended by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, declared that the Arab League would create a new mechanism for the Palestinian dialogue (although it was proposed by Saudi Arabia) –AlHayat El-jadida London newspaper.
Egypt started a new round of talks with the (armed) Palestinian Factions, starting with Islamic Jihad on 24/8/2008, who came to Egypt with a delegation headed by leader Mr. Ramadn Shallah, in addition to other Jihad leaders from the Gaza Strip.
On 1/9/2008 Egypt separately prepared invitations to 6 other Palestinian factions (armed ones only – members of PLO) for a new stage of dialogue, discussing the best way to get Fatah and Hamas to the negotiating table (According to Al-Ahram daily news paper on 2/9/2008: A Palestinian high rank official stated that a meeting will be held between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Masha’al – Head of Hamas political bureau – in Cairo after the feast which comes after Ramadan). Hamas leader Dr. Khalil El-Hayya confirmed on 9/9/2008 (according to Hamas web-site: Palestine Now) that Egypt will invite both Fatah and Hamas to Cairo for separate and individual negotiations with each side.
The Fatah delegation already met with the Egyptian side on 20/9/2008 and came back to Gaza after having dense negotiations on the Egyptian Road Plan for Palestinian reconciliation.
It was said that the Hamas delegation would meet the Egyptian side on 7/10/2008, so that, by then, Egypt could sum-up the results of the meetings with all Palestinian factions. On the eve of such negotiations, Khaled Masha’al, who attended a gathering in Damascus on 13/9/2008, stated that Hamas would not consider President Mahmoud Abbas as the President of PA, unless he would be reelected after 9/1/2008. In the meantime he delegitimized the executive committee of PLO, claiming that this committee was not elected by the Palestinians (Al-Jazeera TV and others on 14/9/2008).
Following Khaled Mash'al's statement, and during a gathering for Iftar (the sunset main meal in Ramadan) at Al-Jazeera hotel in Gaza on 14/9/2008, vice-PLC chairman Dr. Ahmed Bahar stated in front of all Hamas officials, including Ismail Haniya and other civil society leaders, that he, PLC members and Hamas would never recognize any decree from President Mahmoud Abbas to terminate the period of the present PLC (President Mahmoud Abbas had asked for early elections for the Presidency and PLC at the same time) Dr. Bahar agreed on Presidency elections after 9/1/2008 and insisted on the legitimacy of the present PLC, and added that elections would be carried out at the end of the PLC's legal period, which ends on 25/1/2010.
On 20/9/2008, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom, in a press statement stated that Hamas agreed on the formation of a national unity government to settle the political crisis which had divided the Palestinians. "Hamas prefers a national coalition that can defend the Palestinian people and their rights," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom in Gaza.
Prime Minister of the Deposed Government, Ismail Haniyyah, claimed in a press statement on 24/9/2008 that "the way to National Dialogue is blocked as there are no real signs of its seriousness.
Haniyyah claimed that in the light of bombings, strikes, preventing passports to be transported from Ramallah to Gaza, and in the presence of plans to announce Gaza Strip as a rebel territory, there will be no opening for dialogue.
He added that Hamas would not opt for dialogue in such an atmosphere. While the others are asking for dialogue, they stab us in the back. He also added that the Palestinians in Gaza are on their way to break the closure.
As a response to the statements made by high ranking Hamas leaders, Fatah leaders considered Hamas to thwart the dialogue before it had started, putting all the responsibility on Hamas.
According to a Hamas website (www.paltimes.net), in an unexpected declaration, Prime Minister Ismail Haneyyah confirmed the devotion of his government as well as the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on the Palestinian-Palestinian dialogue, stressing that the Palestinian government created the environment for the success of the dialogue.
This came during the Eid (Feast) morning prayer on Tuesday 30/9/2008, in the Palestine football stadium, where the Prime Minister guided (Imam) thousands of citizens praying in the open air. Haneyyah said: "We will go to the Cairo dialogue with open minds and hands extended for a consensus and unity.” The Hamas delegation left to meet in Cairo with General Omer Suliman, Egyptian Minister of Intelligence and other officials, as they left Gaza through Rafah border crossing on Tuesday 7/10/2008. They were the last Palestinian faction to meet with the Egyptian officials. The Gaza members were headed by Dr. Mahmoud Zahhar and the diaspora members by Musa AbuMarzouk, deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau. Israel refused to permit Hamas members from the West Bank to leave via the King Hussein Bridge to Amman and thus could not join the delegation.
Hamas leader Dr. Mahmoud Zahhar, when interviewed by the BBC-Arabic section on 9/10/2008, said that he was optimistic after a positive meeting between the Hamas delegation and the Egyptian officials, where they discussed the Egyptian plan for Palestinian internal dialogue and reconciliation. Dr. Zahhar added that they began to study the formation of committees with Fatah and other factions to discuss all issues required.
According to Firas information agency (www.fpnp.net) Mahmoud Zahhar said Friday 10/10/2008 that it had been agreed between his movement and the Egyptians to form a Unity National Government for reconciliation, and that they also discussed a rearrangement of the security services on the West Bank and in Gaza, taking the same measures in both areas. Zahhar said: “all the points raised in our acquaintance have been agreed upon as subjects of political partnership, reconciliation and unification of the West Bank and Gaza and agreed on a national unity government.”
Zahar also said that it had been agreed with the Egyptians to meet again on 25/10/2008. This meeting had been postponed to 9/11/2008, in order to include all Palestinian factions, as requested by Fatah leaders, who refused to negotiate alone with Hamas.
All Palestinian factions came out with an Egyptian Road Map for Palestinian National reconciliation, supported by the Arab league and the majority of Arab countries, headed by Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
It should be noted that in recent times it could be noticed that Arab leaders and the Arab league started to attach more weight and importance to the Palestinian internal conflict. Secretary General of the Arab League Amro Musa told the delegation of PFLP, whom he met in Cairo on 1/9/2008, that in case of there being no dialogue between Fatah and Hamas within the coming 2-3 months, the Arab league might impose a solution to the crisis, explaining to Palestinians and others which party was being the obstacle (according to www.Palpress.ps on 2/9/2008).
Egypt, in full support of the Arab league, is finalizing a new plan to regulate the situation in the Gaza Strip, called "Elaboration of a comprehensive Egyptian package". The main items in the Egyptian plan are:
1. Formating of a Palestinian national unity government
2. Opening of the Rafah crossing and the lifting of the siege on Gaza
3. Resuming of the Calmness and preventing the launch of rockets at Israeli territory
4. Releasing Gila'ad Shalit in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners (Hamas' request is to free 1000 prisoners) .
5. Sending a military force consisting of members from several Arab countries (mainly from Egypt and Jordan) to control the border crossings in the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, AbuEl-Gheit, proposed to send Arab soldiers (3000) to maintain security in Gaza. Hamas refused the second proposal claiming that there is no need for Arab soldiers to maintain security, while Gaza people are living in full security under the Hamas forces, adding that Hamas would welcome any Arab soldiers to fight the Israeli occupation and free Jerusalem and the holy Al-Aqsa mosque.
Somewhat later, Cairo initiated contact with the Palestinian factions in an effort to implement the Comprehensive Egyptian package (According to Maareev, Israeli newspaper on 25/9/2008 and other media reports)
According to (www.Palpress.PS- close to Fatah of 6/10/2008) "Okaz Saudi Arabia newspaper" published the details of the Egyptian initiative, which consisted of 14 items aimed at bridging the Palestinian separation caused by the Hamas take over in June 2007 as a prelude for launching a comprehensive national dialogue. It was added that Hamas had rejected 3 items of the initiative and agreed on the other 11 items.
The newspaper pointed out that the initiative in some points reflected the Mecca agreement and the Yemeni initiative. The following are items of the initiative accepted by Hamas as published by the Saudi paper:
1. Stop all forms of inflammatory media campaigns.
2. The release of all prisoners from Hamas and Fatah at one time under the aegis of an Arab committee
3. To allow the return of citizens who left the Gaza Strip through force without arresting them.
4. The abolition of the ban on a number of associations and institutions on the West Bank and in Gaza.
5. To maintain temporary control of policing by the neutral Arab committee.
6. Commitment to identifying and legitimizing the PLO representation to all segments of the Palestinian people. Furthermore, to start the reform and restructuring of the PLO (when the dialogue starts), which are to be completed within four months, with the adoption of measures, general elections and the rate figures of representation in the institutions of the PLO.
7. Hamas movement is to vacate its presence, its institutions, and the headquarters in the Gaza Strip, including political, and security ones, and return these sites to the legitimate authority.
8. Freeze the work of the existing Executive Force, which belongs to Hamas.
9. Formation of a transitional government to prepare for legislative and presidential elections before March 2009, based on the commitment to the program of the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO.
10. The commitment of the factions on the negotiated political solution. In case of failure of this option, the factions will be consulted, in order to adopt and pursue another option.
11. Invite all factions to join the institutions of the PA, implying their commitment to PA policy, and in the meantime giving the right to oppose peacefully to political parties outside the framework of the PA.
The items that were rejected by Hamas:
12. The Arab security team to be led by Egypt for the supervision of the arrangement and resolving contentious issues relating to security institutions.
13. Sending an Egyptian-led Arab force of 3000 persons to the Gaza Strip to contribute to maintain security.
14. The commitment of all factions to international agreements signed by PA and committed by Fatah.
After the visit of President Abbas to Syria on 12/10/2008, some less encouraging statements were made :
- President Abbas refused to negotiate with the Hamas delegation on 25/10/2008 in Cairo, although he agreed before
- Hamas (as stated by Haneyya on Friday 17/10/2008) accused the PA on the West Bank with severe accusations, such as “traitors, collaborators with Israel, being supported by the Americans and Zionism, interrogating Islamic women on the West Bank in a bad manner ….etc”
It seemed that the gap between Fatah and Hamas was getting wider. The relations between Hamas and Egypt became more critical, and there were big doubts if the date of 25/10/2008 would see Fatah and Hamas together, unless there would be large pressure on both.
The meeting which was planned for Palestinian dialogue and reconciliation in Cairo on 9/11/2008 was postponed again, to 11/11/2008, but Hamas and other Palestinian factions close to Syria stated on 8/11/2008 that they would not attend the conference, accusing PA president Abbas for imprisoning Hamas leaders and activists on the West bank, stating that he was to bear all responsibilities which canceled the conference.
On Sunday 23/11/2008 Hamas had mobilized a large conference in Damascus called “Right of Return”, sponsored by Syria with a distinguished presence of Iran.
At this conference the attendees attacked the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO and president Mahmoud Abbas, and also condemned the Palestinian Authority. They furthermore placed the responsibility of the siege on Gaza with the Arab countries, Egypt in particular, which, they claimed, was responsible for the closure of the Rafah crossing and the severe suffering of 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip.
The purpose of the conference was to announce the following :
• To demonstrate to the Palestine Liberation Organization that it is no longer represented the Palestinian people
• To Delegitimize the present Palestinian National Council.
• To show that the Palestinian Authority was severely corrupted, and had become a burden on the Palestinians. Therefore it had to be disposed of, especially because it had become a puppet of Israel.
Hamas "issued an official memorandum explaining their reasons for the Cairo dialogue Failure, ( See Annex II)
The Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" issued an official memorandum, explaining in detail its position on Palestinian dialogue, which was scheduled to be held in Cairo on the 11th, of November 2008.
In the memorandum, received by "the Palestinian Information Center," the movement declared its position regarding the dialogue and reconciliation, and assured its willingness to cooperate with the efforts of the brothers in Egypt and the Arabs, in order to end the state of division and achieve national reconciliation through a serious national Palestinian dialogue which will have the real and basic requirements, equitable for all.
The memorandum pointed to contacts between the leadership of the movement and the Egyptian leadership, in a failed attempt to overcome the obstacles before the dialogue, which forced the movement after consultation with leaders of Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front (PFLP-GC), and Sa'eqa of Syria to inform the Egyptian leadership the position of the four factions, which was to not take part in the dialogue.
"Hamas" signaled that the memorandum was distributed to many countries and organizations, forces and factions on the Palestinian, Arab, Islamic and international levels.
Hamas attached to the memorandum a file of 616 names of detainees and abducted people in the prisons of PA in the West Bank, including students, workers, journalists, teachers, imams in mosques, PLC members, doctors, engineers, lawyers. The statement also illustrated the attacks on movement by the Fatah security services and armed wing.
In its memorandum Hamas did not mention the situation of Fatah activist in the Gaza Strip, and also never talked about the observations and criticism on its regime in Gaza from local as well as international Human Rights institutions.
President Mahmoud Abbas announced during his visit to Cairo on 27/7/2008 the commencement of a dialogue for reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, to be managed by Egypt under the auspice of the Arab League in Cairo. Abbas announced the readiness of Fatah for unconditional dialogue and reconciliation on 5/6/2008 and he added from Cairo that all Palestinian factions were intivited to participate in such a dialogue, and he continued saying that he gave his instructions to release all Hamas activists on the West Bank. However, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri claimed that the initiative by President Mahmoud Abbas was not genuine, and was only started to cover the alleged bombings and other such acts carried out by Fatah in Gaza.
During an important meeting between King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Egyptian president Mubarak held in Egypt ( Alexandria) on 15/08/2008, most of the discussions and talks between the two leaders were addressed to the Palestinian internal conflict and the dialogue between Fatah and Hamas. (Al-Ahram newspaper 16/8/2008).
A meeting of Arab foreign ministers held at the Arab League in Cairo on 8/9/2008, attended by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, declared that the Arab League would create a new mechanism for the Palestinian dialogue (although it was proposed by Saudi Arabia) –AlHayat El-jadida London newspaper.
Egypt started a new round of talks with the (armed) Palestinian Factions, starting with Islamic Jihad on 24/8/2008, who came to Egypt with a delegation headed by leader Mr. Ramadn Shallah, in addition to other Jihad leaders from the Gaza Strip.
On 1/9/2008 Egypt separately prepared invitations to 6 other Palestinian factions (armed ones only – members of PLO) for a new stage of dialogue, discussing the best way to get Fatah and Hamas to the negotiating table (According to Al-Ahram daily news paper on 2/9/2008: A Palestinian high rank official stated that a meeting will be held between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Masha’al – Head of Hamas political bureau – in Cairo after the feast which comes after Ramadan). Hamas leader Dr. Khalil El-Hayya confirmed on 9/9/2008 (according to Hamas web-site: Palestine Now) that Egypt will invite both Fatah and Hamas to Cairo for separate and individual negotiations with each side.
The Fatah delegation already met with the Egyptian side on 20/9/2008 and came back to Gaza after having dense negotiations on the Egyptian Road Plan for Palestinian reconciliation.
It was said that the Hamas delegation would meet the Egyptian side on 7/10/2008, so that, by then, Egypt could sum-up the results of the meetings with all Palestinian factions. On the eve of such negotiations, Khaled Masha’al, who attended a gathering in Damascus on 13/9/2008, stated that Hamas would not consider President Mahmoud Abbas as the President of PA, unless he would be reelected after 9/1/2008. In the meantime he delegitimized the executive committee of PLO, claiming that this committee was not elected by the Palestinians (Al-Jazeera TV and others on 14/9/2008).
Following Khaled Mash'al's statement, and during a gathering for Iftar (the sunset main meal in Ramadan) at Al-Jazeera hotel in Gaza on 14/9/2008, vice-PLC chairman Dr. Ahmed Bahar stated in front of all Hamas officials, including Ismail Haniya and other civil society leaders, that he, PLC members and Hamas would never recognize any decree from President Mahmoud Abbas to terminate the period of the present PLC (President Mahmoud Abbas had asked for early elections for the Presidency and PLC at the same time) Dr. Bahar agreed on Presidency elections after 9/1/2008 and insisted on the legitimacy of the present PLC, and added that elections would be carried out at the end of the PLC's legal period, which ends on 25/1/2010.
On 20/9/2008, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom, in a press statement stated that Hamas agreed on the formation of a national unity government to settle the political crisis which had divided the Palestinians. "Hamas prefers a national coalition that can defend the Palestinian people and their rights," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom in Gaza.
Prime Minister of the Deposed Government, Ismail Haniyyah, claimed in a press statement on 24/9/2008 that "the way to National Dialogue is blocked as there are no real signs of its seriousness.
Haniyyah claimed that in the light of bombings, strikes, preventing passports to be transported from Ramallah to Gaza, and in the presence of plans to announce Gaza Strip as a rebel territory, there will be no opening for dialogue.
He added that Hamas would not opt for dialogue in such an atmosphere. While the others are asking for dialogue, they stab us in the back. He also added that the Palestinians in Gaza are on their way to break the closure.
As a response to the statements made by high ranking Hamas leaders, Fatah leaders considered Hamas to thwart the dialogue before it had started, putting all the responsibility on Hamas.
According to a Hamas website (www.paltimes.net), in an unexpected declaration, Prime Minister Ismail Haneyyah confirmed the devotion of his government as well as the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on the Palestinian-Palestinian dialogue, stressing that the Palestinian government created the environment for the success of the dialogue.
This came during the Eid (Feast) morning prayer on Tuesday 30/9/2008, in the Palestine football stadium, where the Prime Minister guided (Imam) thousands of citizens praying in the open air. Haneyyah said: "We will go to the Cairo dialogue with open minds and hands extended for a consensus and unity.” The Hamas delegation left to meet in Cairo with General Omer Suliman, Egyptian Minister of Intelligence and other officials, as they left Gaza through Rafah border crossing on Tuesday 7/10/2008. They were the last Palestinian faction to meet with the Egyptian officials. The Gaza members were headed by Dr. Mahmoud Zahhar and the diaspora members by Musa AbuMarzouk, deputy chairman of the Hamas political bureau. Israel refused to permit Hamas members from the West Bank to leave via the King Hussein Bridge to Amman and thus could not join the delegation.
Hamas leader Dr. Mahmoud Zahhar, when interviewed by the BBC-Arabic section on 9/10/2008, said that he was optimistic after a positive meeting between the Hamas delegation and the Egyptian officials, where they discussed the Egyptian plan for Palestinian internal dialogue and reconciliation. Dr. Zahhar added that they began to study the formation of committees with Fatah and other factions to discuss all issues required.
According to Firas information agency (www.fpnp.net) Mahmoud Zahhar said Friday 10/10/2008 that it had been agreed between his movement and the Egyptians to form a Unity National Government for reconciliation, and that they also discussed a rearrangement of the security services on the West Bank and in Gaza, taking the same measures in both areas. Zahhar said: “all the points raised in our acquaintance have been agreed upon as subjects of political partnership, reconciliation and unification of the West Bank and Gaza and agreed on a national unity government.”
Zahar also said that it had been agreed with the Egyptians to meet again on 25/10/2008. This meeting had been postponed to 9/11/2008, in order to include all Palestinian factions, as requested by Fatah leaders, who refused to negotiate alone with Hamas.
All Palestinian factions came out with an Egyptian Road Map for Palestinian National reconciliation, supported by the Arab league and the majority of Arab countries, headed by Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
It should be noted that in recent times it could be noticed that Arab leaders and the Arab league started to attach more weight and importance to the Palestinian internal conflict. Secretary General of the Arab League Amro Musa told the delegation of PFLP, whom he met in Cairo on 1/9/2008, that in case of there being no dialogue between Fatah and Hamas within the coming 2-3 months, the Arab league might impose a solution to the crisis, explaining to Palestinians and others which party was being the obstacle (according to www.Palpress.ps on 2/9/2008).
Egypt, in full support of the Arab league, is finalizing a new plan to regulate the situation in the Gaza Strip, called "Elaboration of a comprehensive Egyptian package". The main items in the Egyptian plan are:
1. Formating of a Palestinian national unity government
2. Opening of the Rafah crossing and the lifting of the siege on Gaza
3. Resuming of the Calmness and preventing the launch of rockets at Israeli territory
4. Releasing Gila'ad Shalit in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners (Hamas' request is to free 1000 prisoners) .
5. Sending a military force consisting of members from several Arab countries (mainly from Egypt and Jordan) to control the border crossings in the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, AbuEl-Gheit, proposed to send Arab soldiers (3000) to maintain security in Gaza. Hamas refused the second proposal claiming that there is no need for Arab soldiers to maintain security, while Gaza people are living in full security under the Hamas forces, adding that Hamas would welcome any Arab soldiers to fight the Israeli occupation and free Jerusalem and the holy Al-Aqsa mosque.
Somewhat later, Cairo initiated contact with the Palestinian factions in an effort to implement the Comprehensive Egyptian package (According to Maareev, Israeli newspaper on 25/9/2008 and other media reports)
According to (www.Palpress.PS- close to Fatah of 6/10/2008) "Okaz Saudi Arabia newspaper" published the details of the Egyptian initiative, which consisted of 14 items aimed at bridging the Palestinian separation caused by the Hamas take over in June 2007 as a prelude for launching a comprehensive national dialogue. It was added that Hamas had rejected 3 items of the initiative and agreed on the other 11 items.
The newspaper pointed out that the initiative in some points reflected the Mecca agreement and the Yemeni initiative. The following are items of the initiative accepted by Hamas as published by the Saudi paper:
1. Stop all forms of inflammatory media campaigns.
2. The release of all prisoners from Hamas and Fatah at one time under the aegis of an Arab committee
3. To allow the return of citizens who left the Gaza Strip through force without arresting them.
4. The abolition of the ban on a number of associations and institutions on the West Bank and in Gaza.
5. To maintain temporary control of policing by the neutral Arab committee.
6. Commitment to identifying and legitimizing the PLO representation to all segments of the Palestinian people. Furthermore, to start the reform and restructuring of the PLO (when the dialogue starts), which are to be completed within four months, with the adoption of measures, general elections and the rate figures of representation in the institutions of the PLO.
7. Hamas movement is to vacate its presence, its institutions, and the headquarters in the Gaza Strip, including political, and security ones, and return these sites to the legitimate authority.
8. Freeze the work of the existing Executive Force, which belongs to Hamas.
9. Formation of a transitional government to prepare for legislative and presidential elections before March 2009, based on the commitment to the program of the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO.
10. The commitment of the factions on the negotiated political solution. In case of failure of this option, the factions will be consulted, in order to adopt and pursue another option.
11. Invite all factions to join the institutions of the PA, implying their commitment to PA policy, and in the meantime giving the right to oppose peacefully to political parties outside the framework of the PA.
The items that were rejected by Hamas:
12. The Arab security team to be led by Egypt for the supervision of the arrangement and resolving contentious issues relating to security institutions.
13. Sending an Egyptian-led Arab force of 3000 persons to the Gaza Strip to contribute to maintain security.
14. The commitment of all factions to international agreements signed by PA and committed by Fatah.
After the visit of President Abbas to Syria on 12/10/2008, some less encouraging statements were made :
- President Abbas refused to negotiate with the Hamas delegation on 25/10/2008 in Cairo, although he agreed before
- Hamas (as stated by Haneyya on Friday 17/10/2008) accused the PA on the West Bank with severe accusations, such as “traitors, collaborators with Israel, being supported by the Americans and Zionism, interrogating Islamic women on the West Bank in a bad manner ….etc”
It seemed that the gap between Fatah and Hamas was getting wider. The relations between Hamas and Egypt became more critical, and there were big doubts if the date of 25/10/2008 would see Fatah and Hamas together, unless there would be large pressure on both.
The meeting which was planned for Palestinian dialogue and reconciliation in Cairo on 9/11/2008 was postponed again, to 11/11/2008, but Hamas and other Palestinian factions close to Syria stated on 8/11/2008 that they would not attend the conference, accusing PA president Abbas for imprisoning Hamas leaders and activists on the West bank, stating that he was to bear all responsibilities which canceled the conference.
On Sunday 23/11/2008 Hamas had mobilized a large conference in Damascus called “Right of Return”, sponsored by Syria with a distinguished presence of Iran.
At this conference the attendees attacked the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO and president Mahmoud Abbas, and also condemned the Palestinian Authority. They furthermore placed the responsibility of the siege on Gaza with the Arab countries, Egypt in particular, which, they claimed, was responsible for the closure of the Rafah crossing and the severe suffering of 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip.
The purpose of the conference was to announce the following :
• To demonstrate to the Palestine Liberation Organization that it is no longer represented the Palestinian people
• To Delegitimize the present Palestinian National Council.
• To show that the Palestinian Authority was severely corrupted, and had become a burden on the Palestinians. Therefore it had to be disposed of, especially because it had become a puppet of Israel.
Hamas "issued an official memorandum explaining their reasons for the Cairo dialogue Failure, ( See Annex II)
The Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" issued an official memorandum, explaining in detail its position on Palestinian dialogue, which was scheduled to be held in Cairo on the 11th, of November 2008.
In the memorandum, received by "the Palestinian Information Center," the movement declared its position regarding the dialogue and reconciliation, and assured its willingness to cooperate with the efforts of the brothers in Egypt and the Arabs, in order to end the state of division and achieve national reconciliation through a serious national Palestinian dialogue which will have the real and basic requirements, equitable for all.
The memorandum pointed to contacts between the leadership of the movement and the Egyptian leadership, in a failed attempt to overcome the obstacles before the dialogue, which forced the movement after consultation with leaders of Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front (PFLP-GC), and Sa'eqa of Syria to inform the Egyptian leadership the position of the four factions, which was to not take part in the dialogue.
"Hamas" signaled that the memorandum was distributed to many countries and organizations, forces and factions on the Palestinian, Arab, Islamic and international levels.
Hamas attached to the memorandum a file of 616 names of detainees and abducted people in the prisons of PA in the West Bank, including students, workers, journalists, teachers, imams in mosques, PLC members, doctors, engineers, lawyers. The statement also illustrated the attacks on movement by the Fatah security services and armed wing.
In its memorandum Hamas did not mention the situation of Fatah activist in the Gaza Strip, and also never talked about the observations and criticism on its regime in Gaza from local as well as international Human Rights institutions.
