Two Palestinian delegations representing the Palestine Liberation Organization arrived in Sana’a to discuss the Yemeni initiative for boosting national Palestinian unity.

Delegations plan to meet with Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Wednesday to continue talks on the Yemeni peace plan.

The meetings came as an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip wounded 12 Palestinians, including four members of Islamic Jihad; their car was struck in the northern city of Beit Lahiya.

Israeli forces and cross border rocket attacks from Gaza had eased recently as Egypt tries to broker a truce.
 
The delegation consists of Kamal Rafat, secretary general of the Democratic Federation, Azam Al Ahmed, chairman of parliamentary bloc and member of Fatah Shura council and Qays Abdulkareem, member of politburo of the Democratic Front for Liberation Palestine.

Meanwhile the Hamas delegation will be headed by Mousa Abu Marzouq, deputy chair of Hamas’ politburo in exile, Sami Khatir and Muhammed Nasi, Hamas leaders in exile, as well as Jamal Abu Hashim from the Palestinian territories.

Saleh has offered to mediate between Hamas and Fatah, urging Hamas to end its control of the Gaza Strip loyal to the Fatah faction of president, Mahmoud Abbas.

The seizure of Gaza by Hamas prompted Abbas to dismiss the Hamas-led cabinet and form a transition government in the West Bank.

Under the Yemeni plan, Hamas would return the situation in the Gaza Strip to its previous condition before initiating a dialogue with Fatah.

While Abbas has welcomed the Yemeni initiative, concern for Hamas leaders to accept any preconditions for the dialogue are under speculation.

The Hamas delegation is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.

(Aljazeera and agencies)