Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday said it was ready for joining inter-Palestinian dialogue whenever obstacles are removed.

    Ismail Radwan, a Hamas spokesman, said his movement boycotted the Egyptian-hosted dialogue, which was due on Nov. 9 to reconcile Hamas and Fatah, for several reasons that should be settled first.

    "Releasing our prisoners in West Bank and allowing our leaders there to travel to attend the dialogue" are the most pressing demands by Hamas to pave the way for holding a true dialogue, Radwan explained.

    Hamas says security forces, loyal to president Mahmoud Abbas ofFatah, crack down against its supporters in West Bank, holding up to 600 in its jails. On the eve of the Nov. 9 dialogue, which was put off, the pro-Abbas forces prevented Hamas officials in West Bank from traveling to Cairo.

    The dialogue aims at ending the aftermaths of Hamas' last year violent takeover of Gaza Strip and the ensuing split between the Hamas-controlled territory and West Bank.

    Egypt drafted the agenda of the dialogue and Hamas raised several reservations on the paper. Radwan says that Egypt should also consider Hamas' reservations to have a successful dialogue. The paper doesn't equally deal with Hamas and Fatah, according to the Islamic movement which believes the agenda would minimize its influence in the political life.