SAUDI ARABIA: Representatives of rival Hamas and Fatah factions express optimism over crisis talks in Saudi Arabia.

Representatives of rival Hamas and Fatah factions, meeting in Saudi Arabia, expressed optimism over crisis talks aimed at forging unity and ending internecine violence that has killed scores since December. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held crisis talks with Hamas in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (February 7) in an effort to forge a unity government and end internecine violence that has killed scores since December. After the meeting, representatives of rival Hamas and Fatah factions, expressed optimism over the meeting which was held in Mecca, Islam's holiest site. "It is natural that I am optimistic because I think the positive atmosphere around this meeting in particular are near the Mecca , the holy place, and I think all Palestinian factions are feeling that we must make an agreement in this day. So this is the reason for my optimism," Mohammad Nazzal, member of Hamas politburo, told reporters. "I cannot say we really reach final agreement about all issues. But we are on the way to reach this agreement. The atmosphere here in Mecca encouraged the Palestinians to go ahead and I'm sure that maybe we will reach a conclusion within 48 hours maximum," Nabil Amr, an advisor to Abbas, told journalists. More than 90 people have been killed since December in violence between Abbas' Fatah movement and Islamist group Hamas, which beat Fatah in a parliamentary election last year. A deal on a unity government could help end an international blockade of Hamas, though Western countries have halted funding until the group recognises Israel and agrees to previous agreements with Israel signed by the Palestinian Authority. Amr said a major stumbling block had been removed with an agreement to name independents to the key posts of finance, foreign affairs and interior in a unity government, the first subject on the agenda. "Yes for the Foreign Affairs Ministry there is no problem and also for the Finance Ministry but until now we didn't reach an agreement about the name of the Minister of Interior Ministry. Anyhow maybe we will receive the name tonight," Amr said. Adding urgency to the Palestinian talks, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday (February 6) he would meet Abbas and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Feb. 19, in a "significant" bid to restart long-stalled peace talks. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who met Olmert and senior Palestinian officials on Wednesday, said Israel and the Palestinians could be edging towards a turning point in the effort to revive peace talks. But with Israel and its ally the United States opposing a unity government unless Hamas meets Western demands to recognise Israel and renounce violence, that meeting could be in jeopardy. Israel has already released $100 million in Palestinian tax revenues to Abbas but may scale back any future goodwill gestures if Western demands are not met, a senior Israeli official said. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said he had come to the table determined to reach a deal that would end Palestinian divisions, though he made no specific mention of the unity government. Saudi media have said there will be no Saudi interference in the talks, but the key U.S. ally and traditional funder of the Palestinian Authority has tried to pressure Hamas over the past year, Western diplomats in Riyadh say. King Abdullah, who called the talks, urged the Palestinian leaders on Tuesday to avoid a civil war that would put decades of gains in the struggle with Israel at risk, Saudi media said. Fatah officials will also argue that a unity government must adhere to a 2002 Saudi-sponsored Arab peace initiative that offers Israel comprehensive peace in return for a Palestinian state. Any agreement in Mecca, which officials said could take up to three days to hammer out, could fritter away when both factions return, as well as face U.S. and Israeli rejection. Previous efforts to stem the bloodshed and find common political ground have resulted in short-lived ceasefires and a threat by Abbas to call a new parliamentary election, a move Hamas has said would be tantamount to a coup.

ITN Source | February 5, 2007

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