Discussions between Hamas, the Islamic Jihad Movement and Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate officials concluded Tuesday with discussions aimed at pushing forward the Palestinian reconciliation.
Tuesday’s talks revealed differences between the Palestinian Authority and Fatah and between Hamas on the shape of a new Palestinian government after Prime Minister Rami al-Hadmallah had submitted his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas last month.
Fatah and the PA have insisted that the government “include all factions”, while Hamas has called for the formation of “unity government.”
A source close to Hamas told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Authority’s offer to form a government composed of all Palestinian factions - including Hamas - was rejected.
The Hamas delegation called for a national unity government, according to the source. The PA responded to this proposal by saying that Hamdallah’s government was a national unity one but Hamas had refused to be part of it.
The delegation, headed by Hamas chief Ismail Haniya, met on Monday with head of Egyptian intelligence Abbas Kamel and asked him to persuade the PA to form a national unity government that would be dedicated to preparing for elections, continued the source.
Hamas and the Islamic Jihad said in a joint statement following their two-day Cairo talks that a national unity government must be established in a bid to hold parliamentary elections.
Forming a unity government "is important to achieve a national partnership and rearrange the Palestinian home," they said.
Referring to the rallies and protests, known as the "Great March of Return," which broke out in late March last year, the two groups said rallies will continue. They also hailed the Egyptian role in backing efforts to restore national unity.
Cairo has hosted several rounds on the Palestinian reconciliation that was crowned in 2017 with the signing of a reconciliation deal that has since failed to get off the ground due to ongoing disputes between the Palestinian rivals.
