Hamas leader calls for increased dialogue with Fatah.

Thursday December 06, 2007 12:14 by Brian Kenny - IMEMC News

The deposed Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, has once again called for dialogue between his party and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abass's rival Fatah party.

Ismail Haniyeh

The desire for talks comes following an increase in Israeli attacks on the Gaza strip since the U.S. sponsored Annapolis conference, which Abbas attended.

Haniyeh told international media "We believe it is necessary to immediately begin a non-conditional dialogue that will work to heal the Palestinian wounds,"   However Abass, who's Fatah party controls the West Bank, has ruled out further talks unless Hamas relinquishes control of Gaza, a proposition which Hamas rejects outright.

Since the Annapolis conference, an escalation in Israeli aggression towards the Gaza Strip has resulted in the death of 24 members of the Hamas movement.

Hamas seized control of Gaza from Fatah in June, which led to Abass dismissing the Hamas led unity government and reopening talks with Israel.

Israel has declared Gaza a hostile entity and indicated that should Fatah engage in dialogue with Hamas, it may halt the peace process.

Haniyeh told press "It is very clear that Annapolis has provided a cover for this Israeli aggression," He further called for all Arab countries who had attended the US- sponsored Mideast summit to denounce the Israeli attacks.

Israeli officials have been considering the possibility of a full-scale ground invasion of the Gaza strip in the near future.

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