This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27128902
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Palestinian Hamas-Fatah unity deal announced | Palestinian Hamas-Fatah unity deal announced |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have announced a reconciliation deal after a meeting in the Gaza Strip. | Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have announced a reconciliation deal after a meeting in the Gaza Strip. |
| They have agreed to begin negotiations to form a unity government within the coming weeks. | They have agreed to begin negotiations to form a unity government within the coming weeks. |
| It comes as peace talks between the Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel face collapse. | |
| This is not the first time Fatah and Hamas have tried to reconcile since their violent split in 2007, but such agreements were never implemented. | |
| Geographical split | |
| The latest deal was announced at a news conference between Fatah and Hamas, an Islamist group banned as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and the EU. | |
| They said they planned to form an interim unity government within five weeks and hold general elections within six months of a vote of confidence by the Palestinian parliament. | |
| Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said President Abbas and had chosen to seek peace with Hamas rather than Israel. | |
| The split between the two factions came about after Hamas won legislative elections in 2006, prompting an international outcry that saw the imposition of sanctions and the freezing of aid. | |
| Prolonged fighting in the Gaza Strip in 2007 left dozens dead. In June 2007, Hamas ousted forces loyal to Mr Abbas and he dissolved the government. | |
| Fatah has stayed in control of the Palestinian Authority, which rules in the West Bank, and Hamas has remained the power in Gaza. |