FATAH, HAMAS HOLDING SECRET RECONCILIATION TALKS

Fatah, Hamas Holding Reconciliation Talks - Khaled Abu Toameh (Jerusalem Post)

Fatah and Hamas officials said Tuesday they are conducting secret talks, after PA Chairman Abbas told Prime Minister Olmert during their meeting in Jericho on Monday that he had no plans to talk to Hamas. Hamas Prime Minister Haniyeh said Tuesday, "There are attempts to open channels of communication between the two sides."

According to one official, the talks were being held in the West Bank, Beirut, Cairo and Damascus, as well as a number of Gulf capitals. "It's premature to talk about a breakthrough, but at least we are talking again," the official said. Sources in the Prime Minister's Office said Tuesday that Israel strongly opposed a renewal of negotiations that would lead to another Palestinian unity government, and that Israel would cut off contact with a PA government that included Hamas.