Palestina

Israeli and Palestinian presidents Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday hailed an upcoming Middle East peace conference as an historic opportunity while warning that failure could spell fresh trouble for the region.

Hamas rounded up dozens of Fatah activists in the Islamist-ruled Gaza Strip after its secular rival drew more than 200,000 supporters to a rally that ended in gunfire that killed seven people, officials said on Tuesday.

Israeli President Shimon Peres pledged Monday that his country would work for a tangible result at an upcoming US-sponsored Middle East peace conference, saying that the Jewish state is ready to make peace with the Palestinians.

Gunfire killed at least seven people and wounded 80 on Monday at a Fateh memorial rally for Yasser Arafat attended by more than 200,000 supporters of the defeated faction in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Hamas security forces opened fire Monday at a rally by the rival Fatah movement commemorating Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Six people were killed in the bloodiest day of intra-Palestinian fighting since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday hailed a “historic opportunity” for peace as his people marked the third anniversary of the death of his iconic predecessor Yasser Arafat.

Three demonstrators were shot and wounded on Sunday in a clash with Hamas police in Gaza during an event to mark the third anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s death, medical sources said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday inaugurated a mausoleum built over Yasser Arafat’s grave and vowed to continue on his iconic predecessor’s path in seeking statehood.

Hamas members of the Palestinian Parliament held a session of the assembly in Gaza on Wednesday in a challenge to the West Bank-based administration of President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. Meanwhile in

His Majesty King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday discussed efforts to ensure the success of the US-hosted international peace meeting to take place before the end of this year.