GAZA CITY
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held talks Monday with Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal in Doha to discuss inter-Palestinian reconciliation.
Talks focused on "creating favorable conditions for reconciliation so as to face the Israeli occupation and achieve the Palestinian people's aspirations for unity, freedom, dignity and liberation," Hamas said in a press statement.
According to Hamas, the two leaders discussed means of activating the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and coordinating efforts with a view to confronting Israeli violations against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the world's third holiest site for Muslims.
Last month, Hamas and Fatah hammered out a reconciliation agreement in Gaza with the aim of healing the rifts that had marred their relations since 2007.
The deal calls for the formation of a national unity government to serve until legislative elections can be held in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the latter of which is governed by Hamas.
Abbas and Meshaal reiterated their resolve "to open a new page based on national partnership," according to Hamas' statement.
By Mustafa Haboosh
englishnews@aa.com.tr
