Islamic Hamas movement is holding high-ranking contacts with Egypt, which sponsors the inter-dialogue, in a bid to defuse tension with rival Fatah movement, a Hamas spokesman said on Saturday.

Ayman Taha, a spokesman for Hamas in Gaza said in a press statement that there are mutual contacts held on high levels with Egypt to carry its responsibilities following last-week violent incidents in the West Bank.

Nine Palestinians, including four Hamas militants and four security officers belong to President Mahmoud Abbas security forces were killed in two separate violent incidents on Sunday and Thursday in the West Bank city of Qalqilya.

"Two days ago, there have been contacts with Hamas politburo Khaled Meshaal and Egypt," Taha said, adding that Meshaal spoke with high-ranking Egyptian security officials who sponsor a Palestinian reconciliation dialogue.

Earlier on Saturday, a senior Palestinian left-wing leader revealed that Egypt intends to resume the dialogue in Cairo next week, to prepare for signing a reconciliation treaty on July 7.

Egypt intends to invite the members of the five dialogue committees to resolve outstanding issues related to forming a unity government, the security apparatuses, election law, the reforming of the PLO and the inter-reconciliation.

Following Qalqilya's incidents, Hamas threatened to suspend its participation in the inter-dialogue in Cairo. Hamas accused President Abbas and his Prime Minister Salam Fayyad for "great treason."

"So far, Hamas movement hasn't made its mind yet concerning the participation in the dialogue," said Taha, adding "the dialogue is threatened following the incidents of Qalqilya."

He added "the success of the dialogue depends on stopping the campaign of arrests carried out by Abbas security apparatuses in the West Bank."

However, following Qalqilya's incidents, Hamas security forces in Gaza had also arrested dozens of Fatah members and activists, said Fahmi Za'arir, Fatah spokesman in the West Bank.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2009)