Hamas optimistic that Palestinian reconciliation will stand

[Jefferson23]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip rejoiced on April 23 after Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation agreement, hoping this time will be different. Previous agreements, including the latest in Doha in 2012, have produced little progress.

The positive atmosphere was evident, accompanied by a number of signs of strengthening reconciliation efforts on the ground. One such indication was Hamas’ release of 10 Fatah-affiliated detainees who had been accused of security violations.

A delegation of leaders from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) led by Azzam al-Ahmad, Fatah’s official in charge of reconciliation efforts, arrived in Gaza on April 22. They held shuttle talks with Hamas, headed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

A key interest for Hamas in the reconciliation deal is ending its crippling isolation, according to a Hamas leader who participated in the reconciliation efforts. He told Al-Monitor, “The living conditions in Gaza have reached an unprecedented level of suffering, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel with regard to the deteriorating relationship with Egypt. This has sped up the reconciliation. [Hamas] is hoping that this reconciliation with Fatah will rekindle ties with Cairo, or at least put an end to the prevailing tension.”

The leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added, “The reconciliation with Fatah will allow Hamas to fulfill a desire to which it openly admits: Hamas wants to liberate itself from the regional and international isolation it has been experiencing since the fall of [former President Mohammed] Morsi in Egypt in July 2013 and the subsequent regional crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. This would increase its chances for promoting its legitimacy internationally and would facilitate its public events in the West Bank, because the reconciliation will coincide with the release of Hamas detainees in the Palestinian Authority’s [PA] prisons.”

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/04/palestine-reconciliation-hamas-hopes-end-isolation.html#ixzz2zuOFstCt

[Jefferson23]

1. Gaza quiet after Palestinian reconciliation deal

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of Gaza’s government, declared the end of the seven-year Palestinian split between Fatah and Hamas and agreed to form a unity government in five weeks to prepare for elections at the end of 2014.

Hamas met with a PLO delegation headed by Azzam al-Ahmad over two days this week, during which the two sides held scattered meetings to reach an agreement on how to implement the terms of previous agreements made in Cairo and Doha.

At the start of the press conference held on April 23 at his home, Haniyeh said, “It is a great honor to announce, from this modest house in the Al-Shati refugee camp, the end of the split and to witness this historic time in the life of the Palestinian people.”

During the press conference, which was attended by Al-Monitor, Haniyeh said that the delegations acted with high national responsibility during the dialogue, which happened with the blessing of both President Mahmoud Abbas and the head of Hamas’ political bureau Khaled Meshaal.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/04/palestinian-reconciliation-hamas-fatah-plo-israel.html#ixzz2zuR9yKDI

[azurnoir]

2. something that has not been mentioned

a great deal of the Palestinian Authority's security coordination with Israel consisted of arresting Hamas members, how is that going to work out now?

[Jefferson23]

3. You consistently ask the best questions.

I wish I knew. I have only read of the skepticism, have not heard of any
confirmed resolutions.

I would think their reconciliation is more about joining together for the greater purpose, but
who would bet on what the details will look like?