Fatah officials meet Mashaal in Damascus
Ynet learns that talks on national unity government continued in recent days in between Fatah delegation, Hamas. Palestinian source says progress has been made on controversial issues
Ynet has learned that the talks continued in recent days, since the Damascus meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal.
A source in Fatah reported that according to the delegation members, the atmosphere during the talks was positive and progress was made on the establishment of a Fatah-Hamas government.
Abbas recently said that if such a government was not established by the end of the week, he would consider bringing up the elections.
According to the Palestinian source, progress was made on the issue of the portfolios, but also on the most controversial issue – the government's basic guidelines determined by Abbas.
Hamas has so far demanded that the guidelines say that the government would honor the PLO and the Palestinian Authority's signed agreements, while Abbas demanded that the guidelines say that the government would be committed to the agreements.
The Palestinian source noted that Fares was very close to Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who has good relations with Mashaal. Fares and Mashaal are also relatives.
PA officials said they hoped the picture would be made clear once the delegation returned to the territories.
