Fatah, Hamas Meet in Doha for Reconciliation Talks

Gazza City, 11 Ramadan 1437/16 June 2016 (MINA) – A third round of talks between Fatah and Hamas began on Wednesday in the Qatari capital of Doha focused on continuing discussions on strategies for implementing a reconciliation agreement, members of Fatah told Ma’an.

Spokesperson of the Fatah movement, Fayiz Abu Aita, said the meeting in Doha would be a continuation of previous talks between the two movements, adding that the talks are expected to end on Thursday.

Member of Fatah’s central committee, Azzam al-Ahmad, Sakhr Bseiso, Jibril al-Rujoub, and Muhammad Ishtayyeh, make up part of the Fatah delegation and would reportedly be focusing on listening to Hamas’ stance on forming a national unity government and implementing legislative and presidential elections, Abu Aita said.

Abu Aita stressed that the Fatah movement and President Mahmoud Abbas are determined to end Palestinian political divisions and achieve national unity.

The Fatah delegation reportedly arrived in Doha for talks with Hamas following talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Tuesday.

In March, the two political parties also held reconconciliation talks in Doha, with Fatah and Hamas delegations discussing implementations of a viable reconciliation agreement.

The meeting is the latest in a series of attempts to reconcile the two movements since they came into violent conflict in 2007, shortly after Hamas’ 2006 victory in general elections held in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian leadership has repeatedly failed to follow through on promises of reconciliation and holding of long-overdue elections, as both movements have frequently blamed each other for numerous political failures. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)