BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas met Saturday evening with Hamas figures in the West Bank at his Ramallah office, according to sources present at the meeting.

The meeting discussed Abbas' bid for upgraded UN membership, due for a vote on Thursday, as well as reconciliation between Hamas and his Fatah party, attendees said.

Nasser al-Shaer, a former government minister and Hamas deputy, said after the meeting that he supported the UN bid. Hamas officials in Gaza have been more hostile to the diplomatic move.

On Sunday, a delegation of Fatah officials will visit the Gaza Strip at the request of Abbas, delegation member Amin Maqboul.