Palestinian groups hold talks in Algeria to heal rift

By Nour Abu Eisha

ANKARA (AA) – Palestinian factions held talks in Algeria on Tuesday in an effort to heal their rift.

Representatives of 14 Palestinians factions, including rival Hamas and Fatah groups, are taking part in the two-day talks.

“The dialogue sessions kicked off in Algeria in a positive atmosphere,” Hussein Hamayel, a spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group, told Anadolu Agency.

He said the factions will discuss an Algerian paper “that includes a number of points that we hope to reach an agreement on.”

He, however, did not provide any further details about the content of the Algerian paper.
“Any agreement will be under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO),” Hamayel said.

A political and geographical division has prevailed in the Palestinian territories since 2007 when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.

Fatah movement has since ruled the West Bank, while Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip. Many efforts have failed to end the rift between the two rival movements.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report