UN envoy says conflict likely if Palestinians fail to agree

The U.N.’s Mideast envoy warned Monday that if reconciliation talks between Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas fail there will most likely be ``another devastating conflict.’’

Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council that ``critical intra-Palestinian talks’’ are scheduled to open in Cairo on Tuesday.

He said the Oct. 12 agreement between the rivals, aimed at restoring the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority’s rule in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, started ``a long road that could lead to reconciliation.’’

But the U.N. special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process warned of the consequences and likely conflict if the Hamas-Fatah agreement fails.

``Whether it would be triggered by a meltdown of law and order in Gaza, by the reckless action of extremists or by strategic choice, the result will be the same — devastation and suffering for all,’’ Mladenov said. ``This cycle must be avoided at all costs.’’

He said Palestinian leaders, Israel and the international community ``have an important responsibility to advance the peace efforts.’’

The rival factions must also first solve the humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s two million residents and return the territory to full civilian and security control by the Palestinian Authority, Mladenov told the council by video conference from Jerusalem.