Recent talks between Palestinian political factions in Cairo were ruined by their disorganized agenda, the secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, has said.
The meetings’ failure was due to the 12 factions’ undisciplined approach to discussion, said Nayef Hawatmeh, leader of the front. The group is a member organization of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Though they had initially agreed that the issue of the formation of the new government would be off the table, the groups ended up spending time debating conditions for its formation, Hawatmeh told the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper.
Hawatmeh said he was disappointed with the outcome of the summit.
Delegations representing the Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah movements, were in Cairo Saturday to resume negotiations on the reconciliation pact signed in May under Egyptian sponsorship.
The negotiations are meant to end the conflict that erupted in 2007 between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Fatah, which controls the West Bank.
News outlets reported conflicts inside Hamas after leader Khaled Meshaal agreed to participate in a new consensus government. The new government, which political parties agreed upon in Doha on 6 February, will be presided over by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Officials had hoped that the past days’ talks would yield a plan for its formation.
Hamas officials said the formation of the new government has been postponed due to the continuation of talks. Fatah movement laid responsibility for the fruitless talks on Hamas officials.
