Hamas Leader Mash’al Says Reconciliation with Fatah Near

Hamas’ leader-in-exile Khalid Mash’al said on Monday that his group and rival Fatah are only minor issues away from reconciliation. Mash’al said only that “serious and real steps have been taken” but did not indicate how deal-breaker issues like the integration of armed forces and new elections would be handled in an agreement. Egyptian efforts to reconcile the two groups ended with Fatah signing a draft agreement but Hamas refusing to do so. Most believe that ending the Palestinian bifurcation – Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip and Fatah controlling the West Bank – is the highest priority in preparation for statehood. Hamas has refused to recognize Israel, denounce violence and accept agreements entered into by previous governments: the three preconditions set down by western nations for dealing with Hamas. Hamas has also called Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas a “traitor” for agreeing to negotiate with Israel under American auspices. Nevertheless, Mash’al was quoted as telling a meeting of Arab legislators in Damascus that, “The best way to respond to the Zionist extremism is achieving reconciliation.” His newfound optimism follows meetings on Saturday with a Fatah representative that was followed by a positive statement indicating progress on bridging the remaining gaps.