Yemen Leads New Mediation Efforts Between Fatah and Hamas

President Ali Abdullah Saleh is leading new mediation efforts aiming to open dialogue channels between Fatah and Hamas and has presented a proposal for reconciliation containing seven points.

Saleh's proposal was submitted to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen upon his recent visit to Yemen. A copy of the same proposal was sent to Damascus-supported and Hamas political leader Khalid Mashaal.

The seven points of the proposal include returning things in Gaza Strip as they were before Hamas took over it on June 13, 2007. The proposal also calls for resumption of dialogue between all Palestinian factions based on the Cairo Agreement of 2005 and Mecca Accord of 2007, adhering to the Palestinian legitimacy, respecting law and constitution and reestablishing the security apparatuses on national principles and to be commanded by the supreme authorities and the national unity government.     

Hamas military takeover of Gaza in mid June 2007 formalized the separation Gaza Strip from the West Bank, and was a major setback to dreams of Palestinian statehood.

In return, Abbas dismissed the democratically-elected and Hamas-affiliated Ismael Haniyyah together with other Hamas ministers. The movement's affiliates also withdrew from the Palestinian Legislative Council and everything turned to chaos.