Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement block efforts of resuming inter-Palestinian dialogue by submitting to American veto.

    Abbas and Fatah "yield to the American veto against the efforts of achieving the Palestinian national reconciliation," said Mahmoud Zahar, former Hamas foreign minister.

    "The dialogue will only start when the term of the frails ends," Zahar said, referring to Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and U.S. President George W. Bush. By the start of next year, the term of the three men will expire.

    In 2007, Hamas seized control of Gaza Strip following deadly fighting against pro-Abbas security forces. As a result, Fatah consolidated its Western-backed rule in West Bank.

    The two parties later launched crackdown against their dissidents respectively in their own territory.

    Zahar said Hamas is interested in the dialogue to "reach an internal Palestinian agreement ending the split" between Gaza and West Bank," but the American veto stands in the way."

    Egypt has mediated in several rounds between Hamas and Fatah. Recently, it sent letters to the Palestinian factions to collect their views before inviting them to a new round of talks in Cairo.