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Hamas leader stresses 'concessions' in reconciliation deal

Some Hamas officials had hoped Khaled Meshaal would take a tougher stand on Fatah in his most recent speech, as Hamas members in the West Bank continue to be arrested despite the reconciliation deal.
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal speaks during his interview with Reuters in Doha November 29, 2012. Meshaal said the de facto recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state won by his rival Mahmoud Abbas should be seen alongside Gaza's latest conflict with Israel as a single, bold strategy that could empower all Palestinians. Meshaal said the short war which claimed 162 Palestinian lives and five Israelis was concluded on terms set by the Palestinian Islamist movement and ended its isolation, creating a new mood
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Palestinians had long awaited the speech by Hamas’ political bureau head Khaled Meshaal on May 20, which coincided with the anniversary of the Nakba. The wheel of reconciliation has started and a national consensus government will soon be announced.

Meshaal’s 40-minute speech was delivered from his headquarters in Qatar in the presence of dozens of Hamas figures as well as Arab and foreign journalists, writers and politicians. The speech was aired on Al-Aqsa, Al-Quds and Al Jazeera TV stations.

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