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Fatah, Hamas fight over Turkey

Both Hamas and Fatah are intensifying contacts with Turkey, in tandem with the preparation for Palestinian elections.
Palestinians hold a poster of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a Hamas rally in support of Erdogan's government against a coup attempt, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY      - S1AETPWJGAAA

After Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for general elections during his speech at the United Nations on Sept. 26, Palestinian factions, led by Fatah and Hamas, started drawing up plans in this regard both at home and abroad.

On Nov. 11, Hamas announced that the head of its political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, phoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to brief him on the developments of the upcoming elections. Haniyeh stressed Hamas’ position to overcome obstacles in the elections and called for holding them in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Erdogan expressed satisfaction with the Palestinian position toward the elections.

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