Syrian-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal arrived in Yemen Sunday in another effort to reach a reconciliation with the rival Fatah party that rules the Palestinian Authority (PA). Yemini officials proposed several months ago that they act as brokers for negotiations. The rival parties broke off contacts last summer after the Hamas takeover of authority in Gaza.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has stated he would freeze contacts with the PA if it were to try to reach a new unity government with Hamas. Reuters News Agency noted that many Arabs view the rift between Hamas and Fatah as an obstacle to any chance of an agreement with Israel for a new Arab state within Israel's current borders.