RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The PA leadership in Ramallah has declared its rejection of the premier of the caretaker government in Gaza Ismail Haneyya's offer to negotiate means of opening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

The London-based Ashark Al-Awsat newspaper quoted Nimir Hammad, the political advisor to PA chief Mahmoud Abbas, as saying that the offer was rejected.

He said that the PA presidency would not negotiate Hamas over anything until it revokes results of its "coup" and would not negotiate with it over the crossings in particular because it had nothing to do with the issue!

Haneyya had expressed readiness in a televised address on Wednesday to hold an urgent meeting with "brothers in Egypt and Ramallah" to agree on preparations for opening the Rafah border terminal and other crossings surrounding the Gaza Strip.

For its part, the Fatah faction refused Haneyya's invitation.

Azzam Al-Ahmed, the head of Fatah's parliamentary bloc, said in a press statement that he refuses Haneyya's offer on behalf of Abbas.

He added that there would be no meeting with those who are not committed to the Palestinian legitimacy in reference to the PA chief. He, however, ignored the fact that two thirds of the Palestinian parliament's seats are occupied by Hamas cadres.

He said that amending the situation in Gaza starts with ending what he called the "coup", and called on Haneyya to stop calling himself the Palestinian premier!