Hamas denies reconciliation disagreements over security agencies

A spokesman for the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has denied reports of disagreements over security agencies during the reconciliation talks with Fatah. Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the claims as “media rumours”.

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Abu Zuhri said that a report in Al Quds Al Arabi newspaper citing “Palestinian sources” was based on a malicious leak intended to pre-empt the main dialogue sessions. He called on the Palestinian people and media to beware of dealing with such leaks, stressing that the two movements will get together soon to set a timetable for the implementation of the reconciliation agreement and to discuss all relevant details.

According to Azzam Al-Ahmad, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, a small meeting will be held between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo on Wednesday. He pointed out that the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s Activation and Development Committee will also meet in Cairo early next month at the invitation of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The report in Al Quds Al Arabi quoted Palestinian sources as saying that the Palestinian Authority and the Egyptian government have a fear that the security portfolio could deal a fatal blow to the reconciliation process if Hamas insists on restructuring the security agencies operating in the West Bank. Hamas is known to want to integrate its own security services in the Gaza Strip with those in the West Bank run from Ramallah. There are also concerns that Hamas will not dissolve its military wing, the Izzadin Al-Qassam Brigades.