Fatah, Hamas agree to resume meetings

Ramallah, July 7 (IANS) The two Palestinian rival groups, President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party and Islamic Hamas movement, have agreed to resume meetings in an effort to end the internal division.

Ahmad Helles from Fatah’s Central Committee, and Husam Badran, a member of Hamas politburo, made the announcement in a joint interview aired on the state-run Palestine television on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The resumption of meetings between Fatah and Hamas has given our people a new hope for ending the internal division that has been going on for 13 years, so as to face the current political and economic challenges,” said Helles.

Last week, Jibril al-Rajoub, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, and Saleh Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas politburo, began an online dialogue aired on Palestine television.

“The internal Palestinian division can never be considered the real permanent image of the Palestinian people. The real image is the unity to face all dangers that surround the Palestinian cause,” said Helles.

During the joint online interview, Badran revealed that the two factions weremaintaining daily contact and seeking to work jointly in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and abroad to confront the Israeli annexation plan.

He said Hamas is ready to reach a national agreement, including the types of struggle and resistance against the Israeli annexation plan.

The internal Palestinian division between Hamas and Fatah began in 2007 when the former forcibly took over Gaza from the latter.

Arab and international mediations between the two rival factions have so far failed, although they signed a series of understandings and agreements on internal unity.

–IANS

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