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Hamas leaders, Abu Mazen hold "positive talks" in Gaza
 Hamas spokespersons in the Gaza Strip have described a two-hour Tuesday night's meeting with the newly-elected PA president Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza as "constructive and positive." Taking part in the secret late-night meeting were Hamas leaders Mahmoud al Zahar, Ismael Haniya and Taysir Abu Ras. Palestinian Legislative Council member Ziad Abu Mare also attended the meeting. "The meeting was positive and constructive, both sides reasserted their commitment to safeguarding the supreme Palestinian national interests and Hamas promised to study proposals to calm the situation," said Sami Abu Zuhri.He said Islamic resistance leaders in Gaza would hold consultations with the movement's abroad-based leaders, including Khalid Mishaal, Hamas's politburo chief. According to sources in Gaza, Hamas leaders told Abu Mazen during the meeting that Hamas wouldn't do anything that undermines Palestinian national interests. The Islamic leaders also told the PA chief that Hamas's military wing, the Izzedin al Qassam Brigades, would be willing to suspend the resistance if and when the Zionists stopped their aggression against Palestinian population centers. Prior to the meeting, Abbas met with the chiefs of PA security agencies in Gaza as well as a number of Fatah leaders. Abbas reportedly ordered them to deploy "security personnel" along the "friction points" between the Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian population centers for the purpose of preventing the launching of Qassam missiles on Zionist targets. Abbas and other Palestinian leaders said any ceasefire in the Gaza Strip would have to be reciprocal. Posted by: Fred 2005-01-21 |
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