From JPost May. 26, 2006 by ASSOCIATED PRESS ...
The rival Hamas and Fatah groups agreed Friday to form a committee to iron out differences in an effort to avoid further clashes between the sides, officials said.
The sides were meeting in a second day in an effort end fighting that has claimed 10 lives in the Gaza Strip over the past week. Earlier Friday, the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government withdrew a controversial 3,000-strong private militia from the streets of Gaza, saying it wanted to reduce friction with Fatah.
The move came on the second day of Hamas' talks with Fatah...The talks focused on Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' demand that Hamas accept the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. In a bold move, Abbas said Thursday he would hold a national referendum on the proposal in July if Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction, doesn't accept the plan within 10 days.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas is expected to meet with Abbas next week to discuss the proposal, Hamas officials said. But in a speech Friday, Haniyeh hinted that he opposes a referendum....Haniyeh said Hamas will stick to its political program....
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