Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

    DAMASCUS, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Hamas official reasserted here on Monday that dialogue between Fatah and his movement is the only way to get out of the current crisis in the Palestinian territories.

    Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of the politburo of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    "Hamas is still committed to all laws governing the operation of the (Palestinian National) Authority and dialogue is the only way out of this crisis," said Abu Marzouk.

    Hamas, which is facing increasing isolation from Israel and the west after it seized control of Gaza by violence 11 days ago, also faces isolation from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who sacked the Hamas-led unity government and formed an emergency government.

    Hamas has made several overtures to Abbas for talks, which were, however, rebuffed by the Palestinian leadership, saying that there would be no dialogue before the Islamists were held to account for the take-over of security forces in Gaza.

    "It is a grave mistake to talk about no dialogue on the Palestinian arena. There is no way but dialogue," said Abu Marzouk, adding that "it is strange that they want a dialogue with the Zionist enemy but does not want dialogue with their own people."

    But the official also noted that Abbas was not able to hold along policy of non-dialogue with Hamas, because "if he wants to call himself leader of all Palestinians, he must bring the Palestinians on one resolution."

    "It should be noted that most of the Arab parties called on Hamas and Fatah to resort to the language of reason and sit at the negotiating table to solve the internal Palestinian crisis," he said.

    Abu Marzouk's remarks came just hours earlier than a four-way summit of Egyptian, Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli leaders on Monday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort Sharm El-Sheikh to ease the current grave situation in the Palestinian territories and activate the stalled Mideast peace process.

    Ousted Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya on Sunday slammed the summit, saying it will bring nothing to the Palestinians and accusing Israel of boosting the difference among the Palestinians by supporting the emergency government.

    Abu Marzouk echoed Haneya's position, asserting that "(Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert is not able to give anything and Mahmoud Abbas will not take anything from Olmert. He (Olmert) will not stop the settlement, neither will he give a Palestinian state in the West Bank."

    Meanwhile, the Hamas official attributed the current plight in the Gaza Strip to the Israeli occupation and colonial policy "which was responsible for any shortages of water, electricity or food because Gaza is an occupied territory."

    Abu Marzouk said Hamas will not change its position and will continue to adhere to the policy of resistance against Israel.

    "We believe that we have to resist the occupation and end the colonial policy on our land in Palestine so that our people will be free like the rest of the peoples on the earth," he said.

    Hamas won parliamentary elections and rose to power early last year, but its government was isolated by Israel and the west for refusing to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

    Meanwhile, Abu Marzouk also denied that there is any internal division in Hamas between its military and political wings.

    "Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, are committed to the decisions of the movement... and there is never any internal disagreement within Hamas movement and the rumors on this side lack accuracy," he stated.