National unity talks between Palestinian Authority and Hamas end inconclusively

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Reconciliation talks between the Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank and the Hamas terror group which rules the Gaza Strip have ended inconclusively after the groups’ respective leaders agreed to meet in Egypt and discuss national unity for the first time in three years, Haaretz reports.

The meeting was called by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas following Israel’s recent major military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin. According to a press statement given by a Palestinian official, the purpose of the talks was to “end the divisions (between factions) in preparation for a unified Palestinian government and presidential and general elections.”

Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh were present to lead their delegations in the official “unity” talks which took place in Egypt’s city of el-Alamein on Sunday, Haaretz said.

There has been an ongoing struggle for power between the two factions since Hamas won elections in Gaza and took complete control of the Strip in 2007.

While no agreement was reached on major points of contention between the PA and Hamas, Abbas said in a statement that Sunday’s meeting was an “important first step to complete our dialogue,” Haaretz reports.

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