The Palestinian Authority's security chief opened talks with 12 Palestinian factions Thursday seeking to establish a united front and get armed groups to stop bombing and shooting attacks inside Israel.
Hamas immediately reiterated its opposition to a cease-fire. Security chief, Abdel Razak Yehiyeh renewed attempt to get these groups to accept a common Palestinian manifesto that could form the basis of peace negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian talks broke down earlier this month after Hamas and Islamic Jihad vetoed clauses calling for an end to attacks within Israel and implying recognition of Israel.
A Hamas delegate to the new round of talks in Gaza City said his group remained adamant in its objection to that plan and in its demand that all of historic Palestine should be in Arab hands. "We are going to repeat our opposition and explain why," Mohammed Zahar said.
Saleh Ziddane, of the leftist Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said "We are working together to overcome any obstacles to the manifesto and this national program," according to AP.
Arriving for the meeting, Yehiyeh said he did not expect quick agreement. "I'm going to brief them on what's going on in the negotiations" with Israel, he said. "I'm not going to wait for answers." He said he was not planning individual meetings with Hamas leaders Thursday but expected to have such talks soon.
In the meantime, Palestinian officials began talks Thursday with members of the 'Quartet' - U.S., Russian, EU and UN officials - in Paris to discuss reforms to be implemented in the Palestinian Authority.
The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Norway and Japan are also taking part in the talks. Participants said that an Israeli delegation was also involved in Thursday's yalks.
The meetings in Paris, which are scheduled to last until late Friday afternoon, concentrated on proposals for financial transparency, administrative reform, elections, market reforms and other changes. The meetings were closed to reporters, but a statement is expected Friday.
The working-level meeting, organized by Norway, comes as the Palestinian Authority is in the midst of a 100-day reform program in response to U.S. President George Bush's demands in June for an end to corruption.
Palestinian Labour Minister Ghassan al-Khatib said he did not expect concrete cash sums to be discussed, but the talks could lead to a better understanding of the reforms the Palestinians have already implemented and what more needed to be done.
"We hope that the statement (expected at the end of the talks) will point to the progress made and refer to the obstacles and call on Israel to remove these obstacles," Khatib said ahead of the talks. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
