Abbas Willing To Restore Talks With Hamas
By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH, Associated Press | June 4, 2008
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, is calling for dialogue with Hamas after insisting for months that the terrorists give up control of the Gaza Strip first.
He says that if the talks succeed he will call for new legislative and presidential elections.
Mr. Abbas says there must be national dialogue that would end the divisions that harm Palestinian Arabs and their cause.
In Gaza, a Hamas spokesman is welcoming the call in Mr. Abbas's speech today, calling it a positive step.
Hamas overran Gaza a year ago and expelled forces loyal to Mr. Abbas.
