Fatah and Hamas are close to reconciliation, according to Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qurbi, whose country is hosting talks between the two terrorist groups which rule Judea and Samraria, and Gaza, respectively. The agreement ripening between the groups, according to Al-Qurbi, involves returning Gaza to the control of Mahmoud Abbas's PA-Fatah, the establishment of a unity government and the creation of "Palestinian national security forces." The accord was reportedly fashioned by Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Salah, and also involves new elections in Gaza. Al-Qurbi denied earlier reports, according to which the talks, which are taking place in the capital, Sanaa, had failed. He said a draft of the accord had been ratified by Fatah, and the sides are now awaiting approval by Hamas. Murder groups blame each other A meeting between Fatah and Hamas Thursday discussed Yemen's seven-part plan for reconciliation but ended on a sour note, with both sides blaming each other for the failure. PA-Fatah chief Abbas' aide Yasser Abed-Rabbo said the talks had failed because Hamas "refused to accept the Yemeni initiative as it is." Al-Qurbi's claims notwithstanding, Channel 2 TV's Ehud Ya'ari estimated Saturday night that the talks between the two terror organizations were stuck. Proof of this, he said, was the release of documents today by Hamas which purportedly contain evidence of corruption by Ahmed Qurei ("Abu Ala"), the PA's chief negotiator w The Hamas-Fatah meeting ended on a sour note, with both sides blaming each other for the failure. ith Israel. In the meantime, talks between Hamas, Fatah and Egypt over reopening the crossings between Egypt and Gaza have also stalled. Hamas refuses to accept Egypt's conditions for the way the crossings will be run. One sticking point is Hamas's demand that all of the officers in the crossings, including those representing Fatah, will be residents of Gaza. Rocket attacks continue The bickering between the murderous PA factions did not prevent them from continuing to fire rockets at Israeli civilians, though fire has not been very intense in the last two days. Channel 2's Ya'ari called the present situation a "near lull." According to Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency, Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists met in Rafiah on Saturday to debate the possibility of a ceasefire with Israel, a source "with direct knowledge of the meeting" revealed. The meeting came after a visit by Amos Gilad, the head of the Political-Military Bureau at the I The sound of a distant explosion caused many of the people present to leave. The commotion was "very unpleasant." sraeli Defense Ministry, to Cairo, where he met with Egyptian officials to discuss a potential ceasefire, according to Ma'an. Israel has denied it is negotiating with Hamas. Purim party spoiled Friday at around noon, Gaza terrorists fired three short-range ("Kassam") rockets which exploded near the security fence. The attack coincided with the Purim celebrations at the Sdot Negev council. For about 600 celebrants at Kibbutz Alumim, the Purim party was spoiled. The sound of a distant explosion caused many of the people present to leave. The commotion was "very unpleasant," according to a participant who told Ynet: "A lot of the participants are not local residents, but guests. They were simply frightened and left the place in a hurry." Two short-range rockets were fired from northern Gaza Saturday afternoon and exploded in unpopulated areas in the Shaar HaNegev regional council. No one was hurt and no damage was caused. At 4:30 P.M. Saturday, a "Color Red" alert sounded in Sderot, and was reportedly followed by two loud explosions. Security forces combed the area outside Sderot in search of the explosions' locations but were not able to find them. Before dawn Saturday, a mortar shell exploded near the Gaza security fence, hurting no one.
