MIDDLE EAST

Palestinians Hold Peace Talks

To resolve feud between Gaza and West Bank.

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, met Saturday with seven Hamas officials to try to negotiate a reconciliation between his Fatah-dominated authority in the West Bank and the Hamas government in Gaza. It has been a year since the rivals last convened, and Abbas explained that the only way to move forward was for the two warring groups to agree to form a temporary independent government in order to rebuild Gaza—with the caveat that legislative and presidential elections be held off for six months. Abbas allegedly wants to sign a deal with the leaders of Hamas in Gaza, where he has not been in four years since a civil war forced him and his Fatah colleagues to the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority had previously turned its attention to seeking a deal with Israel in regards to Palestinian statehood, but these talks recently broke down over Israeli settlements in the West Bank and other issues. Tense relations between Iran-backed Hamas and Israel over the last several years have recently bubbled to the surface again. After Saturday's meeting, militant groups in Gaza announced that they would agree to a ceasefire with Israel if Israel stops conducting military operations and attacks on Palestinian territory. Israel has not yet commented on the proposal.