Israel Matzav

Abu Mazen - Haniyeh sulha watch - Part 7: It's official

We've now reached Part 7 of the Abu Mazen - Haniyeh sulha watch. Parts 1 - 6 are here, here, here, here, here and here. Now it's official: 'Moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen is now confirming that he is meeting with three Hamas 'officials.' He hasn't given any other details, but I gather they are not discussing the weather.

Abbas's office confirmed that he had met with three Hamas West Bank officials: Faraj Rumaneh, Hussein Abu Quaik and Nasser A-din al-Shaar but gave no further details.

The news comes despite Abbas's statements on Sunday that he would resume talks with Hamas only if the organization relinquishes control over the Gaza Strip. Abbas had also said that Hamas was planning to overthrow the Palestinian Authority government in the West Bank with the help of external forces.

In a press conference earlier this week, Rumaneh and Abu Quaik had distanced themselves from a Gaza counterpart who bragged that the group would eventually take over the West Bank. Rumaneh had expressed his "discomfort" with the statements. "We think they contradict Hamas policy, which calls for dialogue and national unity and reducing difference," he had said.

Nasser Al-Shaar served in the past as the Palestinian Authority's deputy prime minister and education minister.

Message to Ehud K. Olmert and Condi Rice: Keep telling yourselves that there's a difference between Fatah and Hamas.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:31 PM