Gaza City, Gaza Strip – Hamas said Sunday it will resume talks on building a governing coalition with moderate President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, but the militant Islamic group gave no indication of any move toward a deal on recognizing Israel.
The announcement came after an angry standoff with Fatah over the recognition issue and a warning by Abbas that the talks were going nowhere.
Western nations halted aid after hard-line Hamas won elections to take control of the Palestinian government. The West says the Palestinian government must meet three demands – recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous agreements.
A coalition deal between Hamas and Fatah this month was vague on the recognition of Israel, and both sides have differed on its interpretations.
Abbas’ aides say Hamas agreed to honor all the agreements of previous governments, which would imply recognition of Israel since the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel exchanged letters of recognition in 1993.
Hamas insists it was much less specific and agreed only to support those PLO commitments that serve the Palestinian interest.
Abbas will meet Tuesday in Gaza with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to try to rescue the agreement, said Saeb Erekat, an Abbas aide.
Erekat said Haniyeh must adopt clear positions.
“It is not about games of words. It’s not about intentions. It’s about a clear-cut commitment,” Erekat said. “He must realize that any government must accept the commitments and obligations of the PLO and previous governments, including the letter of mutual recognition.”
Haniyeh said Sunday that Hamas is interested in a broader government. Hamas has ruled alone since March after winning parliamentary elections and hopes it can end the crippling aid boycott by bringing in Fatah.
“We are going to resume talks on the formation of a national coalition government,” Haniyeh said in a statement. “We have serious intentions to make it succeed, and we hope that the talks will resume soon.”
Haniyeh did not, however, indicate whether Hamas would compromise. He has said he would never head a coalition that recognizes Israel.
