Abbas´ aide: Fatah backs Hamas-Israel talks

Source: Xinhua | 12-04-2007 07:57

RAMALLAH, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that Fatah movement supports a dialogue between Islamic Hamas movement and Israel to reduce Gaza population's suffering.

Ahmed Abdel Rahman, also Fatah movement's spokesman in the West Bank, told reporters in Ramallah that any dialogue between Israel and Hamas "would certainly minimize the Gaza Strip's Palestinians suffering."

"In fact we welcome any contacts between Israel and Hamas," Abdel Rahman asserted.

Israeli officials had earlier called on the government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to start a dialogue with Hamas movement that has been ruling the Gaza Strip since it took control of the enclave in mid June.

Israel had completely sealed off the Gaza Strip after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip and considered the Hamas-ruled enclave a "hostile entity."

Gaza's life further deteriorated after Israel reduced the supplies of fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip in response to the continuous rocket attacks from the enclave.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei