Following a meeting in his home on Tuesday night the eve of 23 Nissan 5774, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh announced Hamas and Fatah can no longer continue down the path of strife, announcing the time has come for reconciliation.

This does not mark the first time such an announcement has been made, and to date, announced plans of agreement have not been actualized.

In the latest announced agreement a government will be presented by the end of this coming June. Six months later, on January 15, 2015, elections will be held, the Maan PA news agency reports.

Al-Jazeera reports the meeting was held in the Hamas PM’s home, quoting officials of the PA stating that the current reality that exists may not be permitted to continue. It was decided the new government will be one of technocrats. Haniyeh called to actualize all the details included in the previous agreements, signed in Doha and Cairo. Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk told al-Jazeera that the matters discussed by the two sides are not new, but there are issues included in previous agreements. He emphasized this time however there is an air of optimism surrounding the announced agreement, and he is confident a Hamas Fatah coalition government will be established.

Fatah Central Committee official Azzam el-Ahmed added both sides are pushing for an end of conflict and realize the need for unity and elections. This will take place in the coming months he explained, permitting adequate time to reach agreement with the various factions within the PA.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)