News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) An Arab member of the Knesset is working to  reconcile the two main terror groups in Judea and Samaria, Hamas and Fatah, the London-based newspaper A-Sharq il-Awsat reported Sunday. According to the newspaper, the southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, headed by MK Sheikh  Ibrahim Sarsur, is involved in the mediation efforts. Israel considers Hamas a terror movement and forbids all contact with the group.

As part of the reconciliation, the newspaper says that the Hamas leadership is considering handing back Gaza Strip security compounds captured from Fatah in June. Hamas ousted Fatah forces from control of civil and security institutions in Gaza in a bloody coup two months ago.