Ramallah / PNN - President of the Palestinian National Council, Salim Zanoun is attempting to salvage hopes of internal reconciliation by increasing representation of Hamas.

During a statement made after a his meeting with Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Mousa in Cairo yesterday, Zanoun said that an initiative is being put forth to bring in more Hamas members to the National Council.

Other parties are of concern as well for the Council that is considered another Fateh project. Zanoun said Monday that he hopes by including Hamas, some of the internal conflict made be ameliorated.

He said that the initiative intends to “support Egyptian efforts to the current state of fragmentation”.

Zanoun added that he would go to the Gaza Strip at the helm of a Fateh delegation and work to overcome any difficulties confronting the next round of Palestinian dialogue, which he said he hoped to be the final round.

In response to a question from the press presented by the Al Hayat daily regarding the most important issues to be brought by a Fateh delegation to Gaza, Zanoun said there was only one. “What is necessary is characterized in a single topic: the Palestinian National Council.” He went on to discuss specific numbers.

Zanoun added that the basis on which to begin negotiations with Hamas in terms of the Palestinian National Council is that “Hamas is part of the Palestinian people and must be represented in the Council like Fateh is, as well as other parties.”

The major Fateh – Hamas split began shortly after the Hamas party won the Legislative Council elections in 2005.

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