Palestinian political factions in the Gaza Strip on Saturday applauded the reconciliation meeting between President Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal. A meeting between the Fida party, the Palestinian Liberation Front, the Arab Liberation Front and the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front confirmed that there was a need to implement what was agreed upon in the Cairo meeting last Thursday. The factions also called for the formation of an election committee which will begin work in May 2012. Hamas and Fatah should both stop arrests based on political affiliation, which are a "national taboo," they added.