August 8, 2007 (LPAC)--Secret talks are taking place between the Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah aimed at laying the basis for a reconciliation.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said yesterday that he was prepared to step down in order to pave the way for a resumption of talks between Hamas and Fatah. According a report in the Jerusalem Post he said, "There are attempts to open channels of communication between the two sides. At this moment, we can't talk about a real dialogue, but these attempts could development into something positive."

One of the proposals being considered is turning over the security headquarters in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to Egyptian authorities. In fact, Egypt, along with a mediator from Kuwait named Muhammad Jassem al-Saqer, who is speaker of the Arab Parliament, is involved in fostering these talks. The two sides have already held meetings, so far at a lower leadership level, in the West Bank, Beirut, Cairo, and Damascus and in a number of Gulf states.

Ahmed Yusef, a political advisor to Haniyeh, said that the only thing blocking progress are some of the advisors around Palestinian President Abu Mazen. "These people are serving an American-Israeli agenda," he said. "They want to maintain the split between the West Bank and Gaza Strip and are working toward foiling any attempt to reach an understanding between Fatah and Hamas..." Nonetheless he commented that mediation efforts were "very serious" and that they could "strike a deal" in the near future.