Palestine People’s Party (PPP): Reconciliation talks to begin in Cairo May 16, mediators to host 13 Palestinian factions May 18-19

PPP: Hamas-Fatah dialogue to resume 16-17 May, all parties set to arrive in Cairo 18-19 for comprehensive talks

Date: 01 / 05 / 2009  Time:  10:02

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Palestinian conciliation talks have a set start date and concrete plans for a second phase, said Palestine People’s Party member Walid Al-Awad on Friday. The last, and third, round of dialogue was between Hamas and Fatah leaders only, and was seemingly cut short before many of the unresolved issues were discussed. The meetings were originally set for 26 April but were postponed one day to the 27th, then lasted only a day and a half. Following the meetings parties said a fourth round was planned but no details were released. According to Al-Awad, however, a preliminary round of talks between Fatah and Hamas will start on 16 May and go for two days. If all goes well in those meetings, he said, Egyptian mediators plan to host all 13 factions and independents on the 18-19 May. Major issues to be worked out remain the structure of a transitional government or higher committee to rebuild the Gaza Strip and prepare for 2010 elections, as well as the structure and overhaul of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and de facto government security forces Gaza. ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click here to follow Ma’an on Twitter.