http://www.english.hadhramaut.info President Saleh phones Mashal [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 5/1/2009] President Ali Abdullah Saleh made on Monday a telephone call with  head of the Hamas  Political Bureau in Syria's capital, Damascus, Khalid Mashal. During the call, President Saleh and Mashal discussed the developments in the Gaza strip being under Israeli air, sea and ground assaults. President Saleh renewed calls for healing the rift between Palestinian factions, urging their alignment to face brutal Israeli assaults which have killed more than 500 people and wounded almost 2400 so far since the attacks were launched on December 27. President Saleh said Israel took advantage of Palestinian differences to attack the Gaza strip, affirming Yemen's firm stances toward the Palestinian case and expressing Yemen's condemnation for the attacks. Israeli attacks on the Gaza strip is continuing for the eighth day. After almost a one and a half year blockade on the strip and after a week of air strikes, the Israeli military started on Saturday evening ground assault on Gaza with tanks moved into the strip.