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Doha's Palestinian reconciliation talks finds some progress

Xinhua, February 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Palestinian source said Monday that "progress" was cited in national reconciliation talks held in Doha between Fatah party and Islamic Hamas movement, for the second consecutive day.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Palestinian source told Xinhua that progress was cited in the talks between the both parties over the formation of a national consensus government and setting a date for general elections, six months after forming the government.

The understandings include having President Mahmoud Abbas as head of the government and dividing major ministerial portfolios equally between the both parties, and the presidential guards will undertake responsibility of the Gaza border crossings with Egypt, said the source.

Both parties agree to continue to seek the establishment of a Palestinian state within the borders of 1967 and adopt peaceful popular resistance, according to the source, who also noted that Hamas demanded an immediate resolution to the problems of its nearly 45 thousand employees, whose salaries have been cut off the national consensus payroll.

The source concluded that the understandings are in general terms and both delegations will return to their leaderships for final approvals and the declaration of any agreement.

Hamas and Fatah parties began talks over national reconciliation on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, hoping to end the internal rift since 2007.

The last official round of talks between the two parties ended last October in Beirut without reaching breakthrough. The current talks are based on agreements reached by a PLO delegation and Hamas on April 2014 to form a national unity government and hold general legislative and presidential elections later. Endit