Xinhua
November 14, 2010 - 1:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-11/14/c_13606391.htm


GAZA, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The major Palestinian rival groups Fatah and Hamas on Sunday traded accusations over failure of reaching reconciliation in the second round meeting held in Syria' s capital of Damascus last week, which concentrated on the thorniest security issue.

"Hamas is not interested in accomplishing reconciliation," said Jamal Muhissen, a member of Fatah Central Committee. Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), is now controlling the West Bank only after losing power in Gaza in a conflict with Hamas militants in 2007.

In the recent meeting, Hamas sought to keep its "illegal" security services in Gaza and sharing the PNA's services in the West Bank with Fatah, Muhissen said, accusing Hamas of stepping back from previous understandings.

Earlier, Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas said that he can share all government and national institutions with Hamas except the security services.

Meanwhile, Hamas claimed that Fatah attempted to block the reconciliation by keeping restrictions on the security services. Osama Hamdan, Hamas' representative in Lebanon, said that Fatah " suspended discussions on the security issue" and that is why the dialogue has been postponed. The two movements will resume their talks after next week's Muslim holiday of Feast of Sacrifice.




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