Palestinian factions start reconciliation talks in Cairo
Leading Palestinian political factions began talks in Cairo on Tuesday aimed at pushing ahead with reconciliation efforts, including discussing the formation of a unity government.
The United Nations has said the reconciliation bid “must not be allowed to fail” or another round of conflict with Israel could break out, AFP wrote.
Representatives of 13 political parties are in the Egyptian capital for meetings that are expected to last three days, participants said. Jameel Mezher, a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who is attending the closed-door talks, confirmed that the meetings had begun, without giving further details.
The two largest parties — Fatah and Hamas — signed an Egyptian-sponsored unity deal on October 12 under which Hamas is supposed to cede power in the Gaza Strip by December 1.
As part of that deal, both parties and other smaller groups are expected to discuss several issues in Cairo, including forming a unity government and holding elections.
There have been no Palestinian parliamentary elections since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 from Fatah after winning elections.
Palestinians and international powers hope implementation of the unity deal could help ease the suffering of Gaza’s two million residents.
Israel has maintained a crippling decade-long blockade of Gaza, while Egypt has also largely closed its border in recent years.