EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED ABOUL GHEIT AND HIS SPANISH COUNTERPART MIGUEL MORATINOS SAID ON SUNDAY THAT THE RECENT CLASHES BETWEEN HAMAS AND FATAH LOYALISTS IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES WERE "WORRISOME." SPEAKING AT A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MORATINOS IN CAIRO, ABOUL GHEIT SAID THE PALESTINIANS SHOULD "TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY" BECAUSE SUCH CLASHES MIGHT IMPEDE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL EFFORTS, ACCORDING TO DPA. "THESE INCIDENTS RAISE THE WORRY OF EVERY EGYPTIAN, ARAB AND PALESTINIAN AND EVERY PERSON WHO IS SEEKING TO REACH A PEACEFUL AND JUST SETTLEMENT TO THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE," ABOUL GHEIT SAID. MORATINOS SAID THAT SPAIN WAS WORRIED BY THE LATEST CLASHES, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF HAMAS AND FATAH WORKING TOGETHER. MORATINOS ALSO HINTED THAT ISRAEL SHOULD RECOGNIZE HAMAS, BUT SAID IT WAS UP TO ISRAEL TO DECIDE ON THE NATURE OF THAT RECOGNITION.
