After two months of no contact, talks for the formation of a Palestinian unity government would officially be renewed on Sunday.
The resumption of dialogue between the warring factions was agreed upon in a telephone conversation between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday. Both sides expressed their hopes that dialogue between their movements would be comprehensive but speedy. Associates close to Abbas said that negotiations were expected to last a maximum of two weeks.
The decision to renew talks signaled a significant easing of the tensions that plagued the Palestinian Authority over recent weeks. Officials in the PA noted that the meeting between Abbas and exiled Hamas politburo Khaled Mashaal, which was reported by the Arab media, would take place should it prove crucial to the unity negotiations.
The decision to call off the general strike after an agreement was reached between the Palestinian presidency and the civil servants' union heralded a new situation which may make the formation of a unity government easier.
However both Abbas and Haniyeh have personally announced that a unity government has been agreed on several times in the past, but no such government has ever come into being. This time the PA hopes that both Hamas and Fatah will display more flexibility in their demands.
The Palestinian media reported that Hamas agreed to give up on the portfolios for the Interior Ministry and the Finance Ministry, as well as the Foreign Ministry portfolio, in exchange for keeping the role of prime minister in Haniyeh’s hands.
Hamas would obligate Abbas to take action for the removal of the siege on the PA, and particularly to bring about a decrease in demands on regarding Hamas’ policies.
Abbas’ aides said that contrary to media reports, a meeting between himself and Mashaal had not yet been set, although they said such a meeting would not be opposed provided it led to an agreement.
Abbas made a quick visit to Jordan over the weekend and met with King Abdullah in order to update him on recent developments regarding both the unity government and Rice’s visit to Israel.