Report: Fatah, Hamas reach understandings
Palestinian official claims breakthrough achieved on reconciliation agreement; says 'sides agree that next government will be based in Gaza.' Hamas PM Haniyeh, Fatah PM Fayyad unlikely to seek reelection
A Palestinian source said that preliminary meetings between Hamas and Fatah officials have led to mutual understandings between the sides, the Palestinian newspaper al-Ayyam reported on Saturday.
According to the source, the understandings will be officially published after a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal, scheduled to take place in Egypt next week.
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The two are slated to discuss the implementation of the inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement, as well as the parliamentary and presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Youssef, the former political adviser of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, noted that the two sides have agreed that the next Palestinian government will be based in Gaza, adding that the next prime minister may also be a resident of the Strip.
Reconciliation celebrations in Gaza (Archive photo: EPA)
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad commented on the tension between the factions, writing in his Facebook page that he will not force himself upon the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported Saturday that neither Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh nor Fatah PM Fayyad will seek the premiership in the next Palestinian elections.
"Ismail Haniyeh and Salam Fayyad were causes of disagreement in the previous stage, and so both will be exempted," Youssef said.
"Fayyad was subjected to an unjust defamation campaign, and part of it came from Fatah. He just added another element to his accomplishments when he willingly said he would not impose himself," he added.
Fayyad has called on the Palestinian factions to reach an agreement over the appointment of a new prime minister. Hamas fiercely objects to having Fayyad serve in the transition government.
Last month, Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad said that hs faction has reached an agreement with Hamas to hold the parliamentary elections in the upcoming month of May.
If the step materializes, it will mark the end of a four-year-long feud between the Palestinian factions.
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