Facing Isolation, Hamas Asks for Talks

The leaders of the Palestinian political faction Hamas called for a "national dialogue" with their foe, the Fatah party, after realizing that the international community is seeking to choke them off from the rest of the nation and the world. Hamas staged a military coup against the ruling Fatah and took control of the Gaza Strip last week, report the Belfast Telegraph and other news sources.

There is also increasing internal strife in the Gaza Strip now, with members of Hamas coming under attack by bitter Fatah loyalists.

Ismail Haniyeh has refused to accept his dismissal as prime minister of Palestine. Haniyeh is the leader of the Hamas faction. Hamas and Fatah were ruling Palestine side-by-side in a coalition government put into power three months ago, but the president, Mahmoud Abbas, is of the Fatah faction. The Fatah factions wishes to acknowledge Israel as a viable nation and desires to reach a peace treaty with the Jews. Hamas refuses to acknowledge Israel and would like to see the Jews "driven into the sea".

The Fatah faction, which has set up its own emergency government over in the West Bank, is politically backed by Israel and the West.

Hamas has also ignored a decree issued by Abbas on Tuesday officially outlawing their Executive Force military wing.

"Hamas rejects the decision by Abu Mazen (Abbas) to outlaw the Executive Force because his decision contradicts the law. The current government of national unity is the legitimate caretaker government and we do not recognize the emergency government," Senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya was quoted as saying by Reuters.