Fatah, Hamas Delegations Hold Talks in Doha

Doha, 18 Jumadil Akhir 1437/28 March 2016 (MINA) – Fatah and Hamas delegations met in Doha on Saturday and Sunday to discuss the implementation of a reconciliation process between the two major Palestinian factions.

Palestinian sources told Ma’an the two parties had agreed not to speak to the media about the proceedings.

A Fatah delegation arrived in Doha on Friday for talks on implementing reconciliation, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Ma’an..

Sharhabil al-Gharib, an author and political analyst close to Hamas, told Ma’an that these meetings would just amount to a formality unless they yield concrete results.

Al-Gharib said Fatah was demanding that Hamas agree to its agenda, but that a “resolution here is finding a joint agenda represented in the National Accord Document,” which was approved by both parties.

He added that talks would only include “the issue of government and marginal issues.”

The meeting is the latest in a series of attempts to reconcile the two movements since they violently fell out with one another in 2007.

The Palestinian leadership has repeatedly failed to follow through on promises of reconciliation and holding of long-overdue elections. Both movements have frequently blamed each other over these failures. . (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)