Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    RAMALLAH, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Saturday said Palestinian security forces arrested 19 Islamic movement's members in the West Bank.

    In a statement sent to the media, Hamas said the arrests took place in Nablus, Bethlehem, Jenin, Salfeet and Qalqilya.

    Hamas accuses the forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of rival Fatah movement of cracking down against Hamas supporters in the West Bank. While Fatah accuses Hamas of doing the same in the Gaza Strip.

    The two sides started to clamp down against their dissidents after Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized control of Gaza Strip last year.

    Hamas has thwarted an Egyptian effort to reconcile it with Fatah, saying it can not sit down with Abbas while his forces are arresting Hamas people in the West Bank.

    Hamas says up to 600 members are confined in the West Bank.