New Round of Fatah-Hamas Talks in Egypt on Sunday

 Little anticipation of success is accompanying the latest round of unity talks between Fatah and Hamas kicking-off in Cairo on Sunday. Working committees that have been addressing specific issues are submitting their reports, which will become the basis of a draft agreement. The parties had hoped that a formal signing of the agreement will take place on July 7, but none of the parties are expressing optimism that the date will be kept. Each side is blaming the other, and each wants the other side to release the members of its faction that its rival is detaining. There is no indication that Hamas has budged at all in its refusal to recognize the state of Israel, foreswear violence and agree to commitments made by previous governments – conditions set by the international community.