News Brief06:19 AM

(IsraelNN.com) Palestinian Authority (PA) minister Kadura Faras foresees the Fatah-led PA reorganizing a unity government if Hamas agrees to share power in Gaza or if Israel stages a major counter-terrorist offensive, WorldNetDaily reported.

"If Hamas agrees to stop their coup in Gaza then why shouldn't we (Fatah) be together with them? We are open for dialogue and reconciliation," Faras told WND reporter Aaron Klein. The statement was made days after American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she is asking Congress for $400 million in aid for the PA. American policy prohibits giving aid to Hamas, but many weapons and funds that have been earmarked for Fatah have found their way to Hamas.

Deposed PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who leads Hamas in Gaza, has repeatedly called for negotiations with PA Fatah leader and Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert previously has stated that the state would cease negotiations with Abbas if he were to begin talks with Hamas. Numerous reports have stated that Fatah and Hamas contacts are being made through the mediation of Egypt and that a unity agreement will be declared after Israel makes more concessions to Abbas on Jerusalem.