Sources: Fatah and Hamas working on truce

GAZA, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Officials with Hamas and Fatah are taking steps to end their conflict in the Middle East by the end of the year, sources close to Hamas say.

The unidentified sources said Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Fatah leaders are expected to sign a reconciliation accord by 2010, potentially ending the longstanding conflict between the two parties, The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.

News of the accord comes after Mashaal visited Egypt and Hamas supported additional talks in the Gaza Strip with senior Fatah officials.

Fatah officials Nabil Sha'ath, Jibril Rajoub, Mahmoud al-Aloul and Fakhri Bsaiso are expected to travel to the Gaza Strip for the talks, the Post reported.

An unidentified Hamas legislator said if a reconciliation accord can be signed by Fatah and Hamas, the Egyptian government has vowed to permanently reopen the Rafah border crossing.

"The Egyptians said that they would reopen the Rafah border crossing if the two sides signed a reconciliation accord," the unidentified source told the Post of the crossing between Gaza and Sinai.