Representatives of major Palestinian political factions called for a comprehensive dialogue to end the state of political division in the Palestinian territories. The speakers, who gathered at a seminar organized by the Palestinian Peace Coalition (Geneva Initiative) in Gaza City, emphasized that any future dialogue should be based on preventing the events of last June, which led to Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip.

Dozens of journalists, activists and representatives of civil society organizations attended the seminar. The speakers were Mr. Yehya Rabah, member of Fatah Revolutionary Council, Political Analyst Mr. Talal Okal, Islamic Jihad Political Leader Mr. Khader Habib, and Mr. Tayseen Mheisen, member of the Political Office of the Democratic Front of the Liberation of Palestine.

Mr. Rabah stressed that Fatah's call for a comprehensive national dialogue emerged from the fact that previous Hamas-Fatah talks ended with complete failure. He said that the dialogue's success is of national necessity, but warned that failure would lead to catastrophic results.

Mr. Habib said that Islamic Jihad welcomes the president’s call for a national comprehensive dialogue aimed at building a Palestinian public momentum and an Arab umbrella to succeed in the mission of ending the current political division.

Mr. Okal called for guarantees from all the parties to prevent what happened last June. He pointed out that the current initiative may lead to the restructuring of the Palestinian political system.