Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he held 'fruitful' talks with Hamas political bureau Leader, Khaled Mashaal, aimed at resolving a bloody dispute over the formation of a national unity government. Speaking at a joint press conference with Meshaal after a closed meeting that lasted one hour and a half, Abbas said the two leaders 'agreed to forbid Palestinian bloodshed and we must do our best to avoid any frictions or clashes and inciting campaigns' between the two rival groups, Hamas and Fatah. Abbas said they discussed the issue of a national unity government and 'we hope to continue our dialogue in this issue and stressed our commitment to the Palestinian principles.' Both Abbas and Mashaal stressed their rejection of a Palestinian state within temporary borders, an idea that has been floated by Israel. 'We completely reject the idea of a state with temporary borders.' Abbas said in comments which were echoed by Mashaal. Mashaal also stressed that there was agreement to continue talks and that dialogue is the 'only allowed language for solving our political differences.'
'There are certainly controversial points,' but it will be solved through dialogue to be continued inside the Palestinian Territories within two weeks, Mashaal said. A joint communiqué read by Ziad Abu Amre, one of the mediators, hailed the meeting as 'brotherly and positive,' saying it dealt with the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, especially the formation of national unity government, and that there were efforts by both sides to make big strides. Both leaders avoided talking about differences and insisted on continued dialogue to solve the dispute.