Skip to main content

Russia eyes greater Palestinian role

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced its readiness to hold Fatah-Hamas talks to overcome the obstacles impeding internal reconciliation, amid an expected visit by head of the Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniyeh to Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 14, 2018. (Photo by Yuri KADOBNOV / AFP)        (Photo credit should read YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Read in 

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Russia has expressed its readiness to host meetings between Fatah and Hamas to overcome the obstacles impeding Palestinian reconciliation.

The divide between the two started following armed clashes between members of the Palestinian security services and Fatah gunmen on the one hand and Hamas gunmen on the other in mid-June 2007. Hamas ended up taking control of the Gaza Strip, with a state of political divide persisting between the two sides. Various efforts by Arab states have thus far failed to achieve reconciliation.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.