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Abbas Turns to Europe

The appointment of European-oriented Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah could be aimed at getting Europe more involved in talks with Israel. 

Rami Hamdallah, President of al-Najah National University, speaks during a graduation ceremony at the university in the West Bank city of Nablus June 16, 2011. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas named British-educated political independent Hamdallah as new prime minister on June 2, 2013, a move that was immediately condemned by Gaza Strip rulers Hamas. Picture taken June 16, 2011.  REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini  (WEST BANK  - Tags: POLITICS EDUCATION) - RTX109UY
Rami Hamdallah, president of An-Najah University, speaks during a graduation ceremony at the university in the West Bank city of Nablus, June 16, 2011. — REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

The longstanding question of whether Hamas and Fatah will finally reconcile received at least a partial answer this week. If it’s up to Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and president of the Palestinian National Authority, the issue isn’t on the agenda right now.

Many have declared that the time has come and the conditions are right. Hamas wants change, it wants reconciliation and as proof: The “reconciliation camp” won a major victory in the elections for the Shura Council (highest governing body), and Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Khaled Meshaal, who is considered the leading advocate of this policy, was elected head of the movement.

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