New Palestinian initiative outlines Fatah-Hamas reconciliation
The High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel has proposed a new initiative to achieve reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, which includes the formation of a unity government and the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas approved the initiative of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel to achieve reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas during his meeting with the committee members Aug. 13 at the presidential residence in Ramallah. The committee is the highest Palestinian political committee within the Green Line, and it includes Arab municipal leaders, Arab party members of the Knesset, representatives of political parties and Arab nonparliamentary political parties. Abbas gave the committee the green light to begin its calls with the parties concerned in the reconciliation case.
Head of the committee Mohammed Baraka said in a press statement Aug. 19, “This initiative was developed and its details were discussed with Palestinian groups concerned with the reconciliation issue, such as Patriots to End the Split and Restore National Unity and the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies - Masarat, and with Palestinian figures such as Munib al-Masri and his group, Edgo, to agree on a joint course of action.” The plan was approved by Abbas during the Aug. 13 meeting.
