RAMALLAH: Hamas and Fatah say they will resume Palestinian unity talks in Cairo on April 23.
The main dispute is over the program of a Hamas-Fatah coalition that would govern until January elections. Hamas says it won t join any government that recognizes Israel. However, the West won t deal with a coalition that withholds such recognition.
The chief Fatah negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, said Tuesday that Egyptian mediators want moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah to form the government. A committee of Hamas and other factions would be consulted by the government.
Hamas is considering the Egyptian proposal.
Relations between Hamas and Fatah collapsed when Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007. -AP