22 December 2002

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

Press Release

Commenting on recent reports in the media on the dialogue between the Hamas and Fatah Movements, a responsible source in the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, stated the following:

The Movement has noticed that since the declaration on holding dialogue between the Hamas and Fatah Movements in November 2002 in Cairo was released numerous attempts were made to ensure its failure whether as far as its convening or results of the first round were concerned. Those attempts took place via leaking mistaken and deceptive information on the dialogue, its goals and results or through fabricating events and field problems with Hamas Movement cadres. The Movement dealt with the situation in a highly responsible manner out of keenness on foiling those parties’ attempts and to ensure success of the dialogue. It contacted brothers in the Fatah  Movement in Gaza Strip where they were officially informed on names of our members to the joint coordination committee in order to hold a preliminary session determining this committee’s work domains. When the Movement noted that certain problems were hurdling the convening of the first meeting, brother Khaled Mishaal contacted Yasser Arafat and an agreement was reached on holding a meeting for that committee and activating its role. An agreement was also reached on importance of continuing the dialogue that started in Cairo between leaderships of both Movements. The joint committee in the Gaza Strip would thus meet next week Insha’allah. We hope that all parties would provide the necessary positive atmosphere to ensure success of such joint meetings and dialogues. Meanwhile, contacts are still ongoing to determine a date for holding the second round of dialogue in Cairo but so far no agreement was reached on fixing a date or members of the delegations.

We would like to affirm that the Movement’s dialogues with brothers in the Fatah Movement or other factions were in harmony with its policy that adopted dialogue as means of understanding and reaching common grounds. Such dialogues are further meant to boost Palestinian national unity, protect the resistance program and consolidate our Palestinian people’s steadfastness in face of occupation. We believe that the round of dialogue with Fatah Movement in Cairo and other rounds would serve as an introduction to a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue that we would work to initiate and follow up Insha’alah.

The Islamic Resistance Movement
Hamas – Palestine
Sunday 18^th Shawwal 1423H
22^nd December 2002AD