PA ambassador to Turkey says Fatah, Hamas to meet in Doha next month

Palestinian Authority Ambassador to Turkey Fa’ed Mustafa said Hamas and Fatah officials would meet in Qatar early next month with a view to kick-starting reconciliation efforts, the Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

Mustafa said: “Its first aim will be to establish a unity government to include representatives of all [Palestinian factions], including Hamas and Fatah.”

“The meeting’s second aim is laying down a timeline for holding [Palestinian] presidential and legislative elections.”

He was hopeful that reconciliation between the rival factions might be achieved with a view to forging a single Palestinian front able to confront ongoing Israeli violations.

“Israel exploits Palestinian divisions to build new settlements in the West Bank and maintain its blockade on the Gaza Strip,” the ambassador said.

Regarding the Palestinian refugees in Syria, Mustafa said: “While Palestinian refugees in Syria were not part of that country’s conflict, they have nevertheless been badly affected by the war.”

“Unfortunately, the international community has failed,” he said. “The passive stance of the international community, especially the US, has encouraged Russia to carry out egregious human rights violations in Syria,” he added.