2 December 2002

In the  name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

Press Release

Commenting on recent media reports that wrote about new meetings between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) within framework of their dialogue, a responsible source in Hamas stated the following:

Dialogue between the Hamas and Fatah Movements has posed as an important step in history of relations between the two Movements in particular and on the Palestinian level in general. It also affirmed that dialogue is the only means of understanding among the united Palestinian people regardless of differences or political variations.

As for what the media were circulating, we in the Hamas Movement would like to affirm the following:

1- Media interest in this dialogue affirms its importance. It is well known that both Movements have agreed on continuing the dialogue via the permanent dialogue committee but so far members of that committee were not named by either party in addition to dates for its convening.

2- Since no dates were approved so far for such meetings, all published reports on dates and meetings remain mere guessing and predictions.

3- Hamas Movement’s commitment to dialogue is stable and the Movement affirms the importance of its continuation for the sake of reaching joint endeavor among all Palestinian factions and forces. It should proceed within framework of a national project based on the strategy of steadfastness and resistance to protect the Palestinian people in face of the occupation’s aggression, terrorism and repression and to attain Palestinian national goals represented in ending occupation, liberating lands, returning our people’s refugees to their lands from where they were forcibly evacuated.

The Islamic Resistance Movement
Hamas – Palestine
Monday 27^th Ramadan 1423H
2^nd December 2002AD