Region | Palestinian Territories
Tel Aviv stand on colonies unite Fatah and Hamas
Palestinian National Authority seeking alternatives to discussions
- By Nassr Najjar, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 October 9, 2010
Ramallah: The lack of an extension on a moratorium on colony construction by Israel has helped improve the relationship between Fatah and Hamas, given that the Palestinian National Authority is now looking for alternatives to the peace talks to move forward.
One option is to unite Palestinian political views in opposition to the Israeli government, to give it a stronger position in any future negotiations.
And reconciliation efforts between Hamas and Fatah look likely to continue in spite of the ongoing uncertainty about the peace process. This was made clear in statements released by Hamas earlier this week.
These days, the PNA is negotiating in two different directions, in two different styles and with two very different ideologies; both with the extreme Israeli government and with Hamas. "The freezing of the peace talks [is] because the settlement [colony] building encouraged the Palestinian authority to push talks between Fatah and Hamas," Dr Mokmur Abu Saida said.
Mahmoud Al Zahar, a senior political member of Hamas, commented during a convention in Gaza: "the reconciliation would reinforce confrontation of the occupation because it has been proven over the past two decades that the peace talks are absurd and useless. Reconciliation for us is strategic."
Meanwhile, faction leaders say significant progress has been made on the ratification of an Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation deal, after officials met in Damascus. However of security remains a contentious issue for both Hamas and Fatah.
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