Fatah and Hamas coming to Moscow for further reconciliation talks

RT.com, 20 May, 2011

Palestinian supporters of Hamas Islamist movement and of Fatah
party waving their faction's flags during a rally to support the Palestinian
political unity deal, in the West Bank city of Jenin, on May 12, 2011
(AFP Photo / Saif Dahlah)

The representatives of former rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, together with representatives of other Palestinian political forces, are arriving in Moscow on Friday to continue their inter-Palestinian dialogue.

“The leaders of Fatah, Hamas, Popular and Democratic Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Palestinian People's Party Ash-Sha’Ab have set out to Moscow. They were invited to continue the inter-Palestinian peace dialogue. Russia has expressed its desire to join other states in their efforts to reconcile Palestinians,” a representative of Ash-Sha’Ab party (former Communist Party) told RIA Novosti news agency on Friday.

The representative added that with the peace agreement signed by Fatah and Hamas in Cairo in early May [LINK], the dialogue should be continued for this agreement to be properly implemented.

The gathering will also focus on the community’s September plans to appeal to the UN for the recognition of the independent Palestinian state within its 1967 borders.

Palestine’s civil discord started in 2007, when power in Gaza was seized by Hamas, while the West Bank territories fell under Fatah’s control. Now the consolidated community is planning to establish an interim government and hold elections.

Moscow welcomed the reconciliation of the factions. It was noted that Russia, along with Egypt, in particular has been instrumental in their efforts to bring about the signing of that agreement.

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