The latest round of intra-Palestinian reconciliation efforts appears to be the most serious one yet, as discussions about elections are to take place as soon as possible. Jibril Rajoub, Fatah’s secretary-general and the lead PLO official behind the latest surge of activity, delivered a letter to President Mahmoud Abbas on Jan. 2 from Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and then was able to return a positive written response from Abbas.

Fatah sources in Ramallah told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the key issue holding up reconciliation was whether the general elections would be held simultaneously or consecutively. Abbas and the PLO had opted for local legislative elections to be followed by presidential elections. Hamas, the sources said, has finally agreed to the consecutive option. As a result, legislative elections would be followed by the setting up of a national unity government that would get a vote of confidence; presidential elections then would take place.

Annes Sweidan, the head of foreign relations in the PLO, told Al-Monitor that all parties are serious about ending the split and holding elections as soon as possible. “Before elections, however, we need to have goodwill between the parties, a stoppage of incitement and in order to move forward we need to avoid getting into small details that could derail the process.”

A statement by the Palestinian president published on the official Palestinian Wafa News agency Jan. 2 said Abbas welcomed the agreement of Hamas “regarding ending the division, building partnership, and achieving national unity through democratic elections, with full proportional representation — legislative and presidential elections, and the [Palestinian] National Council.”