The Middle-East Observer
Palestinian reconciliation
Hamas Split Threatens Unity Deal
The committee on “Change and Reform” in Hamas’s parliament is questioning the legality of the Doha Agreement, which would make Abbas both Prime Minister and President of a future Palestinian Government. Fatah officials say the move is within the parameters of Palestinian law, claiming that many in Hamas resent the rise of Abbas and its … Continue reading
Analysis: Hamas juggles political need with founding principles
Hamas has recently changed its ideological and political views. Founded with strong religious ideological roots, it has recently been obliged to filter its attitudes to match political changes. Naji Shurrab, a professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza says ”Hamas is looking for international and regional legitimacy. It knows that the gate to this legitimacy is its political attitudes and so … Continue reading
EU to keep paying new Hamas-linked government
Despite Hamas being designated a terrorist group by the European Union, Palestinian authorities will keep on receiving money from Europe despite the Fatah-Hamas unity government taking shape following the Doha declaration. ”The EU looks forward to continuing its support, including through direct financial assistance, for a new Palestinian government that should uphold the principle of non-violence,” … Continue reading
Analysis: Unity Deal Brings Risks for Abbas and Israel
The final reconciliation deal that was signed on Monday between the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamist movement Hamas brings risks for the peace talks between Israel and Palestine, and for the relations that the Palestinian authority has with other foreign countries. The two leaders said that they would announce a full unity … Continue reading
Analysis: After Doha deal, challenges remain to Hamas- Fatah unity
Though the Doha declaration is an important step in the process of national reconciliation within Palestinian society, much remains to be achieved and many challenges are still ahead. “What happened in Doha is an expression of good intentions and is a good step, but the reconciliation file is thick and will not be resolved quickly,” an analyst … Continue reading
Abbas officially named to head interim Palestinian govt
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal signed the “Doha Declaration” on Monday, which stipulates that Abbas will lead a unity government to oversee the upcoming Palestinian elections. His ”national consensus government will be made up of independents and technocrats and they will be responsible for overseeing the elections.” Both parliamentary and presidential elections are … Continue reading
Netanyahu to Abbas: ‘You Can’t Have it Both Ways’
Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Palestinian Authority’s leader Mahmoud Abbas that reconciliation with Hamas will take Israel away from its willingness to talk for peace. Netanyahu said “the Palestinian Authority must choose between an alliance with Hamas and peace with Israel.” However, Netanyahu’s resistance to the formation of a Fatah-Hamas unity cabinet is based on Hamas’s … Continue reading
Analysis: Hamas on the move, seeks Palestinian ascendancy
While the Arab spring has been shaking up countries in the region, Meshaal seems to be looking for new allies to bring Hamas to the forefront of the Palestinian national movement again. The Islamist movements’ ties to Syria and Iran seem to be loosened, as it has pursued the reconciliation with pro-peace Fatah movement of … Continue reading
Hamas Gaza chief begins regional tour
Hamas’ head of government in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Qatar on Monday. After this visit, he is expected to go to Kuwait, Bahrain and Iran. Earlier this month he visited Egypt, Sudan, Turkey and Tunisia. New parliamentary and presidential elections will be held in Palestine in May of this year, as part of the … Continue reading
Palestinian politicians doubt elections will take place
Holding elections within a year was one of the main issues that Fatah and Hamas agreed on, in their reconciliation agreement that was signed in Cairo in May 2011. But there is much doubt among Palestinian officials about whether they will take place as planned in May 2012. “Elections can not be held under two … Continue reading
Palestinians take step towards elections, unity
Though many are skeptical as to whether presidential and parliamentarian elections will be held in the Palestinian territories in the near future, as the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement stipulates, a first practical step towards the elections was taken with the opening of a voter registration office in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Hamas claims that Israel is trying … Continue reading
Meshal will not seek reelection; analysts say reason is growing gap between Gaza-based Hamas and exiled leaders
Hamas leader, Khaled Meshal, has notified the Hamas leadership that he will not seek reelection. Palestinian analysts claim that the move is due to a growing rift between Hamas’ Gaza-based leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and Syria-based Khaled Meshal. Meshal’s recent statements have been in support of a reconciliation deal with Fatah and have hinted at the acceptance … Continue reading
Haniyeh: 80 Fatah members can return to Gaza
80 members of Fatah who fled Gaza following Hamas’ takeover in 2007 will be allowed to return to the coastal strip, Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday. The Hamas Prime Minister also called for the full implementation of the reconciliation agreement between Palestinian factions, after meeting with the committee in charge of the implementation of the end … Continue reading
Hamas, Islamic Jihad debate joining forces
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two principal Palestinian Islamist movements, are holding talks “at the highest level” in an effort to merge the two factions. According to an Islamic Jihad spokesperson, the efforts at reconciliation are in the interest of the Palestinian cause and the future of the Palestinian liberation movement. “An in-depth dialogue has … Continue reading
Hamas official: Reconciliation talks beset by mistrust
With Fatah and Hamas trying to move forward on the unity agreement signed in Cairo last year, a Hamas official has said that the reconciliation talks are being undermined by massive distrust and lack of confidence in the negotiations. The inability of the two parties to form a unity government has made implementing many parts … Continue reading
Haniyeh: Gaza security forces will remain
Gaza’s Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, said on Monday that the security forces that were formed since the 2007 split with the West Bank will not be dismantled. A key point of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement is the merger of the security forces of rival groups Fatah and Hamas. But the implementation of this aspect is … Continue reading
Hamas: PA arrested over 800 members in 2011
Hamas: PA arrested over 800 members in 2011
Hamas, Fatah report progress as leaders spar
Following a meeting between Fatah and Hamas officials on Saturday in Gaza City, both sides said there was progress in the implementation of the reconciliation agreement. The presidential compound in Gaza will be return to Fatah and the dispute concerning the alleged refusal by Hamas to allow entry of Fatah officials into Gaza was overcome. However, Hamas … Continue reading
Hamas, Fatah see differing causes for reconciliation delay
While for Fatah, the main obstacles to implementing the reconciliation agreement are Hamas’ internal divisions, the Islamist movement believes that external pressures are responsible. “Palestinian reconciliation is confronted by external pressures and by Israeli interference meant to block it and delay its implementation on the ground”, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said. Agence France-Presse, France … Continue reading
In gesture to Fatah, Hamas to return Abbas’s Gaza home
In gesture to Fatah, Hamas to return Abbas’s Gaza home
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