Hamas’s exiled political chief, Khaled Meshaal, said his Palestinian Islamist movement was ready for dialogue with its rivals in Fatah during a meeting on Monday with Syria’s foreign minister.
The talks between Meshaal and Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, state news agency Sana reported, were focused on “the call by President [and Fatah leader Mahmoud] Abbas on a resumption of dialogue” on the basis of a Yemeni mediation.
The Hamas chief said his movement was “ready to take part in dialogue to achieve a reconciliation and defend the national and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”.
Sana also reported that Syria hailed Abbas’s initiative and offered its help to launch the dialogue and make it a success.
On Sunday, Saudi King Abdullah and Abbas agreed at a meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah that the Arab League should oversee truce talks between Fatah and Hamas, a Palestinian diplomat said.
Abbas last week called for dialogue with Hamas, which ousted his Fatah loyalists from the Gaza Strip in bloody clashes in June 2007, breaking with his previous policy of rejecting any opening until the Islamists cede control of the territory.
Hamas has responded favourably to Abbas’s overture under a Yemeni-brokered deal that was struck in March to open direct talks between Hamas and Fatah, raising hopes of a reconciliation. — AFP