Fatah, Hamas pick Abbas to head new joint government

The rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas announced Monday they had agreed that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will head an interim unity government that will prepare for new elections, ending a prolonged stalemate over how to mend their bitter rift. (more…)

Palestinians take step toward reconciliation

Palestinian political rivals Hamas and Fatah have taken the first practical step toward holding general elections by opening an office for voter registration in the Gaza Strip.

Presidential and parliament elections are envisioned for late spring, though a date has not been set.

Elections are at the center of reconciliation between the Islamic militant Hamas and Fatah, the movement of internationally backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (more…)

Fatah, Hamas leaders talk unity but no sign of progress

The leaders of Fatah and Hamas met for the first time in six months on Thursday and hailed progress toward ending Palestinian divisions that has led to separate governments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but there was no sign of a breakthrough. (more…)

Palestinians criticize Hamas on prisoner swap

Some Palestinians criticized Hamas on Thursday for conceding too much in its deal to swap a captured Israeli soldier for more than a thousand Palestinian inmates.
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Palestinians turn against Syria’s regime, their long-time advocate

Palestinians in Syria are beginning to turn against a dictatorship that for decades used its claims of resisting Israel and fighting for Palestinian rights as justification for the repression of its own people.

Hamas rejects Fayyad as Palestinian PM in a shared cabinet

Influential members of the militant Islamic group Hamas on Sunday balked at the nominee of the rival Fatah party for prime minister in a shared government, the first significant snag in carrying out a reconciliation pact signed last month by the Palestinian factions.

Fatah on Saturday nominated the current prime minister, Salam Fayyad, (more…)

Hamas leader calls for freedom and democracy in Syria

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal who lives in exile in Syria’s capital Damascus called on Monday for more democracy in Syria.

“We want to see more stability, prosperity and a stronger government that responds to the people’s aspirations,” he told France 24 television. (more…)

Sarkozy: Peace talks soon or Palestinian state

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he will support a unilateral declaration of Palestinian independence if peace talks with Israel don’t restart by September, dealing a tough setback to Israel’s campaign to isolate the incoming Palestinian unity government. (more…)

Fatah and Hamas ended their four year rift

Palestinian leaders formally ended a four year rift between secular Fatah and the Islamist Hamas, at a ceremony in Egypt on Wednesday, a reconciliation their people see as crucial for their drive to set up an independent state. Israel, which in 1967 captured the territories (more…)

Palestinian agreement angers Israeli PM, report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying on Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority must choose whether it is interested in peace with Israel or reconciliation with Hamas. (more…)