Fatah- Hamas reconciliation talks set to take place in Egypt next week
The two parties have remained in conflict for the past decade, after Hamas was elected into power in 2006, in Gaza.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JUNE 18, 2016 16:43Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas in the Egyptian capital Cairo on November 8(photo credit: AFP PHOTO)
A Hamas delegation was expected to head to Cairo next week for talks on reconciliation with Fatah, according to Palestinian news agency, Maan.The talks are a part of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's larger plan of renewing direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian parties, the agency reported.Fatah and Hamas have both expressed their support of Egypt's initiative.Sisi made his appeal for the renewal of Israeli- Palestinian peace talks spur-of-the-moment in May, calling on both Israelis and Palestinians to make the historic steps towards peace, as his country did in 1979.“I ask Israeli factions and the Israeli leadership to please agree on finding a solution to the crisis, and this should be in return for nothing but good for the current, future generations and children,” Sisi said.Sisi added: “I say to our Palestinian brothers, you must unite the different factions – and I won’t add anything else to this point – in order to achieve reconciliation and quickly.”Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of his support for the talks, “I welcome Egyptian President Sisi’s remarks and his willingness to make every effort to advance a future of peace and security between us, the Palestinians and the peoples of the region," he said.“Israel is ready to participate with Egypt and other Arab states in advancing both the diplomatic process and stability in the region. I appreciate President Sisi’s work and also draw encouragement from his leadership on this important issue,” Netanyahu added.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke recently with The Jerusalem Post’s Hebrew-language sister publication, Ma’ariv. Speaking of his support of the negotiations.“Put it all to the side and let’s negotiate,” Abbas said. “We aren’t far apart [physically] and we cooperate on a daily basis. Don’t push us to the wall. We will all lose.”This past Wednesday Fatah and Hamas reconciliation talks were held in Qatar. The talks were expected to focus on the implementation of previous reconciliation agreements.The two parties have remained in conflict for the past decade, after Hamas was elected into power in 2006, in Gaza.Tovah Lazaroff and Dana Somberg/Ma'ariv Hashavua contributed to this report.