Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    RAMALLAH, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian security forces arrested 17 members of Islamic Hamas movement in West Bank this morning and last night, Hamas said on Sunday.

    The arrests took place in the cities of Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah and Jenin, according to the statement by Hamas.

    The security forces, loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas' of Fatah movement, have been cracking down on Hamas after the Islamic movement drove out pro-Abbas forces and took over control of Gaza Strip in deadly fighting last year.

    In return, Fatah says that Hamas also cracks down against its supporters, its members and its institutions in Gaza Strip. On Thursday, Hamas released 20 Fatah prisoners in Gaza, saying they were all the political prisoners Hamas prisons contained.

    The arrests take place as Egypt works to launch an inter-Palestinian dialogue ending the rift between the two movements. Hamas leaders said that the arrests in West Bank aim at thwarting the dialogue, scheduled to start on November 9.