GAZA, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Gaza Sunday to try again to convince Hamas rivals to adopt an internationally acceptable political program.
Abbas met with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and began another round of negotiations to try and reach an agreement between Fatah and Hamas for a unity government.
A plan to exchange prisoners "will not be enough for the international community, so Abbas wants a clear statement from Hamas regarding their political program and how it will change," said a senior official speaking on condition of anonymity.
Abbas has two options, either to convince Hamas to accept the Quartet's conditions to renounce violence and accept previous agreements -- the Quarter consists of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia -- or to dissolve the government, said the official. He believes the second option is more likely.
Abbas is under pressure to reach an agreement since he will go before the United Nations Sept. 22 and the Quartet will meet on Oct. 1.
Israel's now 11-week long incursion into Gaza to halt the launching of Qassam rockets into Israel and to rescue an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas on June 25, has strengthened Hamas and enabled its officials to refuse Abbas' overtures, the official asserted.
