Fatah and Hamas Take Another Shot at Reconciliation

A meeting in Damascus on Saturday signals the latest attempt by the Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to reconcile. Considered by most to be imperative in order to achieve statehood, efforts mediated by Egypt to find common ground between the two groups have been stagnant for a number of months. Hamas leader-in-exile Khalid Mash’al hosted Fatah representative Azzam Al-Ahmad in the Hamas Damascus office for a meeting described in a joint statement as being “fraternal and friendly.” The communiqué was optimistic in announcing plans for the two groups to “hold a meeting shortly” and then “go to Cairo to sign a reconciliation agreement.” Fatah has already signed an agreement mediated by Egypt while Hamas has refused to do so. Hamas forcibly took control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah in 2007, creating a bifurcated Palestinian entity. With the clock ticking toward statehood, reuniting the two warring factions has become the Palestinians’ primary internal priority.