Hamas and Jihad refuse participating in meeting of the Palestinian central council

Emad El-Falouji, minister of post and communication in the Palestinian government urged Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to participate in the coming meeting of the Palestinian Central Council.

But the 2 movements refused the invitation and demanded the halt of the peace talks with Israel first. El-Falouji said that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad must support the stance of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in his battle for establishing the Palestinian country and regaining Jerusalem.

An official in Hamas said that the movement does not intend to accept El-Falougi's invitation for attending sessions of the Palestinian Central Council at the current time and urged the Palestinian government to stop the talks of preparing for such participation.