Abbas, Haniyeh meet in attempt to reach truce
Palestinian president, prime minister fail to reach agreement on ceasefire with Israel. Members of military wings tell Ynet rocket fire will continue in spite of Abbas' efforts to halt it
The meeting ended without an agreement between the parties.
On Wednesday, Palestinian government spokesman Ghazi Hamad confirmed that the two officials met to discuss the need to implement the security plan and strengthen the truce.
Hamad refused to provide the location of the meeting, apparently for security reasons aimed at preventing Israel from targeting Haniyeh. The Palestinians fear the IDF will target Hamas leaders if the rocket fire continues.
Members of the different military wings told Ynet that in spite of the Palestinian president's attempts, the rocket fire will continue. Abbas is expected to continue his talks with the different factions in the coming days.
On Tuesday, Abbas met in Gaza with the Egyptian security delegation to the Strip. The parties discussed ways to reach an understanding with Israel in a bid to stop the Israeli airstrikes and to strengthen the internal ceasefire between Fatah and Hamas.
A previous meeting between the Palestinian president and representatives of the Palestinian factions was cancelled due to "the security situation in the Strip and the ongoing Israeli attacks," according to sources in Abbas' office.
Palestinian sources said Tuesday that in spite of the talks, the ongoing Israeli strikes and rocket fire made the chances of reaching a truce in the coming days slim. In such a situation, the sources said, the chances that a meeting would be held net week between Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were very small.
