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| Palestinians relaunch unity talks | Palestinians relaunch unity talks |
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| Leaders of the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have opened reconciliation talks in a renewed effort to create a unity government. | Leaders of the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have opened reconciliation talks in a renewed effort to create a unity government. |
| Delegations from each side, and other Palestinian factions, met at the office in Cairo of the powerful Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. | Delegations from each side, and other Palestinian factions, met at the office in Cairo of the powerful Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. |
| "We hope this meeting is the real start of a new period ending the state of division," Mr Suleiman said. | "We hope this meeting is the real start of a new period ending the state of division," Mr Suleiman said. |
| On Wednesday both groups agreed to release detainees from the other side. | On Wednesday both groups agreed to release detainees from the other side. |
| They also pledged to stop attacking each other in the media to foster goodwill between the two sides. | They also pledged to stop attacking each other in the media to foster goodwill between the two sides. |
| Solving Fatah-Hamas differences is seen also as an essential step if an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal were to happen - although with Israel also at a political crossroads analysts say that could be a long way off. | Solving Fatah-Hamas differences is seen also as an essential step if an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal were to happen - although with Israel also at a political crossroads analysts say that could be a long way off. |
| "A certain number of detainees will be freed right at the beginning of the dialogue," said a statement from Azzam al-Ahmed, leader of the Fatah bloc in the Palestinian parliament, and Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official | "A certain number of detainees will be freed right at the beginning of the dialogue," said a statement from Azzam al-Ahmed, leader of the Fatah bloc in the Palestinian parliament, and Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official |
| "Other detainees will be freed successively so that this issue will be totally closed before the end of the national Palestinian dialogue," the statement said. | "Other detainees will be freed successively so that this issue will be totally closed before the end of the national Palestinian dialogue," the statement said. |
| Unity talks | Unity talks |
| About a dozen Palestinian groups were invited to take part in the national dialogue, whose aim is to set up a unity government. | About a dozen Palestinian groups were invited to take part in the national dialogue, whose aim is to set up a unity government. |
| FATAH-HAMAS RIVALRY January 2006 - Hamas wins Palestinian Authority legislative electionMarch 2006 - Hamas government sworn in. US and EU suspend tiesFebruary-March 2007 - Fatah and Hamas agree to form coalition to end growing factional warfareJune 2007 - Hamas seizes control of Gaza from Fatah after continued fighting. Unity government dissolved, Israel tightens blockade of Gaza Strip Gazans seek end to bitter split | FATAH-HAMAS RIVALRY January 2006 - Hamas wins Palestinian Authority legislative electionMarch 2006 - Hamas government sworn in. US and EU suspend tiesFebruary-March 2007 - Fatah and Hamas agree to form coalition to end growing factional warfareJune 2007 - Hamas seizes control of Gaza from Fatah after continued fighting. Unity government dissolved, Israel tightens blockade of Gaza Strip Gazans seek end to bitter split |
| A unity government could serve for an interim period, preparing for new presidential and legislative elections and co-ordinating the rebuilding of Gaza. | A unity government could serve for an interim period, preparing for new presidential and legislative elections and co-ordinating the rebuilding of Gaza. |
| The US, Britain and the EU have made clear that they would rather see non-partisan technocrats in control of the Palestinian territories than a coalition which includes Hamas. | The US, Britain and the EU have made clear that they would rather see non-partisan technocrats in control of the Palestinian territories than a coalition which includes Hamas. |
| A previous unity agreement fell apart after Israel and its international backers refused to deal with Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel. | A previous unity agreement fell apart after Israel and its international backers refused to deal with Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel. |
| Inter-factional fighting in Gaza came to a head in the summer of 2007 when Hamas fighters ousted the pro-Fatah security forces and overthrew PA control. | Inter-factional fighting in Gaza came to a head in the summer of 2007 when Hamas fighters ousted the pro-Fatah security forces and overthrew PA control. |
| As well as continued tension, both sides have been accused of conducting politically motivated arrests and torture of rival faction members. | |
| Egypt revived the call for Palestinian reconciliation talks in November. | Egypt revived the call for Palestinian reconciliation talks in November. |
| However, Hamas withdrew from the talks, complaining that Fatah continued to arrest Hamas members in the West Bank. | However, Hamas withdrew from the talks, complaining that Fatah continued to arrest Hamas members in the West Bank. |
| Efforts to secure a reconciliation have gained strength since Israel's three-week military offensive in Gaza which ended on 18 January. | Efforts to secure a reconciliation have gained strength since Israel's three-week military offensive in Gaza which ended on 18 January. |
| The Fatah and Hamas sides have fundamental differences over how to deal with Israel. While Fatah has renounced violence, Hamas refuses to recognise Israel. Hamas is prepared to accept a short-term truce but it reserves the right to fight Israel. | The Fatah and Hamas sides have fundamental differences over how to deal with Israel. While Fatah has renounced violence, Hamas refuses to recognise Israel. Hamas is prepared to accept a short-term truce but it reserves the right to fight Israel. |