Prime Minister of the deposed Hamas government Ismail Haneya Friday called on Arab foreign ministers to meet his movement's leaders before their meeting scheduled on Nov. 26 in Cairo.
Arab foreign ministers will hold a special meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo to discuss the situation in the Palestinian territories and the inter-Palestinian reconciliation between the rival Hamas and Fatah movements.
"Hamas proposes a meeting with Arab foreign ministers before their meeting on Nov. 26 to brief them on the situation and also to clarify its vision concerning the dialogue and the reconciliation," Haneya told reporters in Gaza.
Hamas thwarted a comprehensive dialogue scheduled to be held in Cairo on Nov. 10, saying it would go to the dialogue only if President Mahmoud Abbas security forces stops arrests against the movement's activists in West Bank.
Hamas complained that the Arabs and the mediator Egypt "only listen to one party, which is Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah movement, and doesn't listen to Hamas' vision."
"If the Arabs want to form a balanced vision on what is happening in the Palestinian territories, mainly the dialogue and the reconciliation, they should listen to both parties," said Haneya.
However, Haneya said that the ties between Hamas and Egypt are "strategic," adding "Differences in the views could emerge during the daily relationships, but this doesn't mean that there is a strategic tension with Egypt."
Meanwhile, Haneya revealed that Hamas leaders held talks with leaders of Palestinian factions in Gaza in the last couple of days, and said "We expressed our clear stance concerning the truce with Israel."
"We will be committed to the truce with Israel as long as the occupation (Israel) is committed to it. But the occupation hasn't shown any commitment to the truce and to easing the siege imposed on Gaza," said Haneya.
(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2008)
