An official from Palestinian faction Fatah announced on Monday that a
meeting with rival Palestinian movement Hamas would be held on Wednesday in
Cairo.
meeting with rival Palestinian movement Hamas would be held on Wednesday in
Cairo.
Azzam Al-Ahmed, a member of Fatah's central committee, said the Cairo
meeting would discuss the possible resumption of reconciliation efforts from
the same point at which they stalled last July.
meeting would discuss the possible resumption of reconciliation efforts from
the same point at which they stalled last July.
Al-Ahmed also stated that, as soon as an understanding was reached on the
resumption of work of the Palestinian Central Electoral Committee,
consultations would begin on the formation of a coalition government under
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
resumption of work of the Palestinian Central Electoral Committee,
consultations would begin on the formation of a coalition government under
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
He also asserted that reconciliation talks would include several parallel
committees concerned with issues such as 'public freedoms' and 'community
reconciliation.'
committees concerned with issues such as 'public freedoms' and 'community
reconciliation.'
The upcoming reconciliation meeting was announced after last Wednesday's
get-together in Cairo between Abbas and Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas'
political bureau.
get-together in Cairo between Abbas and Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas'
political bureau.
Hamas, for its part, has denied that Wednesday's meeting saw any discussion
of the resistance movements' military wing or Gaza-based security apparatus.
of the resistance movements' military wing or Gaza-based security apparatus.
According to London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Fatah has demanded that
Hamas dissolve its armed wings and recognise the National Security Forces as
Palestine's only armed force. The demand, however, was strenuously rejected
by Hamas, the newspaper reported.
Hamas dissolve its armed wings and recognise the National Security Forces as
Palestine's only armed force. The demand, however, was strenuously rejected
by Hamas, the newspaper reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has criticised last
Wednesday's reconciliation meeting, describing Meshaal as "the head of a
terror organisation."
Wednesday's reconciliation meeting, describing Meshaal as "the head of a
terror organisation."
The revival of talks between Gaza-based Hamas and West Bank-based Fatah
comes within the context of an Egyptian-sponsored unity agreement reached in
April of last year. The main terms of the deal, however, have yet to be
implemented due to ongoing differences over who should head up the proposed
coalition government.
comes within the context of an Egyptian-sponsored unity agreement reached in
April of last year. The main terms of the deal, however, have yet to be
implemented due to ongoing differences over who should head up the proposed
coalition government.
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