Factions hope to form Palestinian government by March

 Hamas and Fatah exchange pleasantries ahead of February 27 meetings Hamas member Ismael Ashqar has renewed his faction’s hopes to reach a Palestinian reconciliation agreement by the end of the month, hitting back at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah for “conspiring” against previous signed agreements.
“Hamas considers reconciliation a strategic possibility, not just propaganda,” Ashqar said during a press statement on Wednesday morning. “Hamas wants this to succeed.”
Criticising Fatah for a “conspiracy” against interfactional agreements previously signed in Cairo, the Hamas official claimed Fatah “does not consider unity essential.”
President Mahmoud Abbas had reneged on an agreement signed in Cairo in February, by issuing a presidential decree to hold elections in three months instead of the agreed six.
Ashqar denied that his government had banned Fatah officials from travelling within the Gaza Strip, pointing out that the same could not be said for the West Bank, after tens of Hamas supporters and activists were arrested in towns across the occupied territory in recent weeks.
Hamas claim 63 members have been detained so far.
In a surprising development, Ashqar suggested national dialogue talks between Palestinian factions be made “public,” broadcasting them on television.
Azzam al-Ahmad, Fatah Central Committee member, has meanwhile revealed preparations are being made for another round of unity talks on February 27. Meetings will aim to complete reconciliation by the end of the month, with the formation of a national unity government.
Following a meeting with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel, al-Ahmad announced that he had run through points of discussion with Hamas, including voter registration which began in the Palestinian Territories over a week ago.
The Fatah official claimed over 80 percent of prospective voters had already registered for slated presidential and parliamentary elections.