PALESTINE: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he plans to meet Hamas leaders in the coming fortnight to discuss forming a new government in the wake of the recent parliamentary victory by the militant Islamists.
Mr Abbas also stressed that despite the victory of the armed resistance movement, the Palestinians under his leadership remain committed to eventual peace talks and stood by all agreements with Israel.
"We reiterated our commitment to the peace process through negotiations and according to international legitimacy," Mr Abbas told reporters following a meeting in Ramallah with the German chancellor Angela Merkel, the first European leader to visit the occupied territories since Hamas's surprise victory in last Wednesday's polls.
Mr Abbas, who is facing internal criticism over the scale of Fatah's loss, dismissed suggestions that he might resign from his directly elected position, which expires in three years' time.
Hamas, untested in national politics, is keen to make a new Palestinian government acceptable to the West by luring respected Fatah members or independent politicians into a future administration.
It also wants to retain the moderate Mr Abbas as a conduit for any future talks with Israel, and the president's message of stability and continuity yesterday is perceived as a signal that the two camps can do business.
"Things are beginning to unfold in a relatively positive direction. I have been observing the conduct of the Hamas people and they are seeking to reassure people that things will be fine. They are seeking national unity government. They sent messages to the president saying they want to trust him," said Ziad Abu Amr, a newly elected independent lawmaker from Gaza who is considered to be a candidate for a cabinet post in a future coalition.
Mr Abbas joined Hamas yesterday in its appeal to foreign donors, who were meeting in London and Brussels, to lift threats to cut vital aid if the Islamic militant movement did not renounce its armed strategy and recognise Israel's right to exist.
The charter of Hamas, which carried out some 50 suicide bombings during the Palestinian uprising that broke out in 2000 against Israeli occupation, dedicates it to Israel's destruction.
However, its leaders have hinted strongly in recent days that the movement is prepared to moderate its extremist position, saying that a future Palestinian government would abide by previous agreements signed with Israel that explicitly recognise the Jewish state's right to exist.
Ahead of yesterday's donors' meetings, Israel controversially said it would withhold 240 million shekels (€43 million) in customs funds currently owed to the Palestinians. Such a move would deviate from signed agreements and would add to the financial crisis facing a new government in the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel has also imposed a financial blockade on Gaza by closing Karni terminal, the main commercial crossing between Israel and the Strip, for the past fortnight.