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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Push to revive Palestinian talks | Push to revive Palestinian talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rival Palestinian factions are aiming to resume talks between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal. | |
| They were due to meet on Saturday in Damascus in Syria, but the talks were postponed at the last minute. | They were due to meet on Saturday in Damascus in Syria, but the talks were postponed at the last minute. |
| It is thought both sides want to agree on a coalition government before the two men commit to a meeting. | It is thought both sides want to agree on a coalition government before the two men commit to a meeting. |
| The two sides are locked in a violent dispute over control of the security forces and relations with Israel. | The two sides are locked in a violent dispute over control of the security forces and relations with Israel. |
| Hamas, which won Palestinian elections a year ago and control the cabinet, and Fatah have tried but failed to agree a unity government for months. | Hamas, which won Palestinian elections a year ago and control the cabinet, and Fatah have tried but failed to agree a unity government for months. |
| Fatah advocates negotiations with the Israelis on a future Palestinian state, while Hamas refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist. | Fatah advocates negotiations with the Israelis on a future Palestinian state, while Hamas refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist. |
| Election threat | Election threat |
| Mediation is under way to ensure the meeting between the two leaders can be held on Sunday, a Hamas official said. | Mediation is under way to ensure the meeting between the two leaders can be held on Sunday, a Hamas official said. |
| The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Damascus says that both sides want the meeting to produces tangible results. | The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Damascus says that both sides want the meeting to produces tangible results. |
| The political head of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, lives in exile in Damascus. | The political head of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, lives in exile in Damascus. |
| Mr Abbas threatened in mid-December to hold fresh elections if a deal could not be reached. Hamas said that was tantamount to a coup. | Mr Abbas threatened in mid-December to hold fresh elections if a deal could not be reached. Hamas said that was tantamount to a coup. |
| More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional violence since then. | More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional violence since then. |
| Mr Abbas has already held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad which were described as "frank" and "amicable". | Mr Abbas has already held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad which were described as "frank" and "amicable". |
| Palestinian legislator Nabil Amr said Mr Assad expressed willingness to back all "efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity". | Palestinian legislator Nabil Amr said Mr Assad expressed willingness to back all "efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity". |
| Hamas's election victory prompted an international aid boycott last year, which has crippled the Palestinian economy. | Hamas's election victory prompted an international aid boycott last year, which has crippled the Palestinian economy. |