Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    RAMALLAH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday welcomed the signs of improving relations between Jordan and Islamic Hamas movement.

    "We don't fear the dialogue between Jordan and Hamas, instead, we welcome any effort that could persuade Hamas to sober up," said Nemer Hamad, Abbas' media advisor.

    Hamad said the violent takeover of Gaza Strip by Hamas last year "directly affect the situation in Egypt and Jordan, so the Palestinian Authority (PA) hopes such dialogue can be an entry to convince Hamas to step back from what it carried out in Gaza."

    Egypt, which shares its northern border with Gaza, has been involved in a series of mediations between Hamas and the PA and between Hamas and Israel.

    But Jordan has severed its ties with Hamas in 2006 when the authorities there charged a Hamas-linked cell of planning to carryout attacks in the Jordanian capital.

    Hamad said the improvement of relations between Hamas and Jordan "was another Arab attempt to end the unnatural situation in Gaza."

    In the aftermath of the fighting to take control of Gaza, Hamas routed forces of president Abbas, ousted his Fatah movement and tightened its grip on the coastal strip.

    Abbas also consolidated his rule in West Bank with a western-backed government.