Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas on Tuesday entered their second day of talks in Cairo to discuss the implementation of their reconciliation agreement. Fatah's delegation is headed by Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of the group's Central Committee, while Hamas is represented by Moussa Abu Marzouq, vice chairman of the political bureau. On 3 May, both factions signed an Egypt-brokered reconciliation pact agreeing to form a national unity government. The accord, signed in Cairo, ended a four-year rift between the two groups. In a statement issued on Tuesday ahead of the meeting, Ezzat al-Resheq, a Hamas official, described the atmosphere during Monday's talks as positive and calm, adding that resolutions concerning several issues were reached. "Discussions will be continued on ending the dispute, forming the new government, and restructuring the Palestinian National Council, in addition to the rest of issues mentioned in the Egyptian working paper," he said. In a statement issued before the meeting, Ahmad pointed out that Monday's session tackled the new government, detainees' issues, compensations for parties damaged by the dispute and the consolidation of security services. He explained that such issues require a timetable, adding that both parties agreed on how to implement the reconciliation and that remaining issues will be discussed during Tuesday's meeting. Ahmad voiced appreciation for Egypt's role in brokering the deal, saying Egyptian officials attended the meeting. Translated from the Arabic Edition
