The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) was founded in Gaza in December 1987. It became so popular and earned a huge Palestinian popular support following a series of suicide bombing attacks it carried out over the past 20 years, until it had overwhelmingly won the elections of 2006.
After it won the elections and defeated President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement in Gaza and West Bank, it formed a government and formed a special executive force in Gaza that challenged Abbas security forces.
Following months of fighting in Gaza, Hamas finally defeated Abbas security forces and his Fatah movement's militias and took control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year. Gaza takeover complicated the situation and made the possibility of getting back to the negotiation table impossible.
Fatah movement conditioned the resumption of dialogue with ending Gaza takeover, a request that is still rejected by Hamas, which insists that the parties should first sit on the table and then discuss all outstanding issues.
But then President Abbas presented an initiative in June 4 and called on Hamas movement to immediately launch a comprehensive dialogue that end the status of inter-division between Gaza Strip which is ruled and controlled by Hamas and the West Bank, which is ruled and controlled by Abbas.
Abbas explained that the resumption of dialogue should be based on an initiative of reconciliation presented by Yemen several months ago. The Yemeni initiative also called on Hamas to end its Gaza takeover, form a national unity government, rebuilt the security apparatuses and prepare for holding early presidential and legislative elections.
Ahmed Abdel Rahman, Fatah movement's spokesman in Ramallah accused Hamas that it hasn't so far accepted the Yemeni initiative and also hasn't seriously considered the initiative of President Abbas on resuming dialogue.
