Palestinian Reconciliation at Snail's Pace

Daoud Kuttab laments the lack of progress in reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas in 2012.
Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (2nd L) and Islamic Jihad leader Mohammed Al-Hindi (2nd R), senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath (L) and deputy speaker of Palestinian Parliament Ahmed Bahar celebrate what Palestinians say is a victory over Israel after an eight-day conflict, during a rally in Gaza City November 22, 2012. A ceasefire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers took hold on Thursday after eight days of conflict, although deep mistrust on both sides cast doubt on how long the Egyptian-sponsored de
Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (2nd L) and Islamic Jihad leader Mohammed Al-Hindi (2nd R), senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath (L) and deputy speaker of Palestinian Parliament Ahmed Bahar celebrate what Palestinians say is a victory over Israel after an eight-day conflict, during a rally in Gaza City Nov. 22, 2012. - REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot
DaoudKuttab.jpeg
Daoud Kuttab
@daoudkuttab

The long-heralded Palestinian reconciliation is going on for another year despite wishes to the opposite earlier this year.

Thus 2012 began with lots of promises that produced the Doha declaration on Feb. 6  between Hamas’ Khaled Mashal and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also the leader of Fatah. The idea behind that agreement was that the controversial post of Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority be retained by Abbas.

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