Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    RAMALLAH, June 9 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official said on Monday that the aim of President Mahmoud Abbas last week's call for an inter-Palestinian dialogue is to implement the Yemeni initiative.

    Saleh Ra'fat, member of the committee to follow up the dialogue between Fatah and Hamas told Voice of Palestine radio that Abbas wants the Yemeni initiative approved by the 20th Arab summit "to be implemented."

    "We formed a vision that will be referred to President Abbas as soon as he returns back from a tour in several Arab countries," said Ra'fat, adding "all political groups, including Fatah and Hamas would join the dialogue."

    Any comprehensive dialogue "won't be just a regular dialogue, it would focus on implementing the seven provisions of the Yemeni initiative of reconciliation," he said, adding that "the dialogue would form a mechanism of implementation."

    Three months ago, Yemen presented a reconciliation initiative between rival Fatah and Islamic Hamas movements, which aims at ending Hamas control of Gaza and rebuilding the police and security apparatuses.

    Last week, Abbas suddenly offered an initiative of reconciliation and a resumption of dialogue among Fatah and Hamas as well as other factions and political groups. He has formed a special committee to follow up the dialogue between the two sides.

    Deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haneya and other Hamas leaders welcomed Abbas' initiative.