Fatah and Hamas hold key talks over consensus government

PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas (R) is expected to ratify Palestinian National Council elections law Cairo – Akram Ali The Palestine Liberation Organisation [PLO] Development and Activation Committee has held its leadership framework meeting to discuss the draft law regulating Palestinian National Council [PNC] elections. A firm decision over several matters regarding the law has been postponed until Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal said that the members discussed potential reconciliation and key steps ahead of the presidential and legislative elections.
According to Meshaal, there was broad agreement over the anticipated national consensus government, public freedoms and social reconciliation, in addition to the development and activation of the PLO. There were brief discussions about the PNC elections bill, with more talks expected in the near future. "The atmosphere is good and we are moving forward, but we need time," the Hamas politburo chief said.
Meshaal thanked Egypt for sponsoring and hosting the talks, adding that the growing closeness between Hamas and Fatah since the United Nations' status upgrade "reinforces the positive steps being taken towards achieving reconciliation and ending Palestinian division."
Fatah Central Committee member Azzam al-Ahmed, who heads the movement's delegation in Cairo, revealed that "five key points" regarding the PNC election regulations proposal were discussed, with a decision expected in the near future. "We'll make a decision and then the bill will be put to the PLO Executive Committee for ratification by President Mahmoud Abbas," he said.
According to al-Ahmed, the committee also discussed the Central Elections Committee [CEC], and it was agreed that CEC will complete its mission by the end of March, making it legally viable. Afterwards that, Abbas will "issue two decrees setting a date for the election and ordering the formation of a national consensus government, with himself as its head and on the condition that all cabinet members selected are independent."
Members also discussed the wider implications of the UN vote which gave the Palestinian Authority the status of non-member observer state .
Al-Ahmed said that the matter of the Palestinian refugee camps in Syria occupied a large part of the agenda, with attendees agreeing that camps must remain neutral and that emergency aid must be provided to the residents.
Earlier on Friday, Abbas met Meshaal and his deputy, Moussa Abu Marzouk, for talks which were also attended by Egypt's intelligence chief, Major General Raefat Shehata.