Rival Palestinian parties, Fatah and Hamas, agreed on Sunday to a memo of understanding, drafted by Yemeni mediators.
Media reports stated that both parties signed a document of understanding that states "Fatah and Hamas agree to return to the situation prior to the June's incident." This took place today in Yemen as a part of reconciliation talks mediated by the Yemeni government.
Azzam Al-Ahmad, representative of Fatah, confirmed to that the Yemeni mediators will be contacting the parties concerned in order for Hamas and Fatah to restart the stalled dialogue. Al-Ahmad added that the Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, will raise the issue of Hamas-Fatah talks in the upcoming Arab League summit in Damascus.
Dr. Ismail Radwan of the Hamas party in Gaza was quoted by Maan News Agency as saying "the signing of the understanding memo marks resumption of dialogue," adding "Hamas has been concerned about an intra-Palestinian agreement based on one objective, which is unity not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank." Radwan stated that dialogue will resume by April 2008.
Hamas and Fatah, two rival Palestinian parties, have been at odds since the Islamist Hamas party won parliamentary elections in January 2006. A unity government reached in February 2007, which ended an international economic embargo, collapsed four months later after Hamas took over control of the Gaza Strip.
