Moscow Intra-Palestinian Talks Significant By Being Inclusive - Democratic Union Party

Moscow Intra-Palestinian Talks Significant by Being Inclusive - Democratic Union Party

The intra-Palestinian meeting is a significant event since it brought different factions, even opposing one, to the negotiating table, Zahira Kamal, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Democratic Union party, told Sputnik on Monday

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2019) The intra-Palestinian meeting is a significant event since it brought different factions, even opposing one, to the negotiating table, Zahira Kamal, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Democratic Union party, told Sputnik on Monday.

The third intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow opened earlier in the day and will last through Wednesday.

"The atmosphere is positive. Everybody is speaking about the importance of such talks. Even some of the delegations are saying that the event by itself is something positive because everyone accepted invitations," Kamal said.

She explained that Hamas and Fatah had previously refused to hold talks with each other, but the Moscow meeting brought them together as well as other factions.

"We are talking all together, having negations and dialogue with each other. It is by itself a one step further," Kamal said.

She noted that the meeting in Moscow focused on searching for common ground instead of addressing differences.

"What is important is that we come to find what is common between us, and work on the common things instead of trying to solve only the obstacles or differences. It is very important because you have something to start with," Kamal explained.

She also pointed out that the meeting in Moscow was different from the talks in Cairo.

"We see that what is going here is not a duplication of what has been done by Egyptians. It is like integrating and building up on the agreements at the meetings that have been done in Egypt," Kamal said.

She added that Moscow could assist the Palestinian cause through supporting it at international fora.

"We are not asking Russia to go in very simple details of how to solve or to implement the articles of the reconciliation agreement ... But they can work on the main issues at the international community, at the Security Council, at the General Assembly," Kamal said.

Hamas, listed as a terrorist organization in many countries, including the United States and Israel, gained control of the Gaza Strip after a short war with the rival Fatah movement in 2007, which led to the enclave's blockade. Fatah has repeatedly criticized Hamas for splitting the country and preventing the Palestinian Unity Government, created in 2014, from ruling Gaza. Fatah is the dominating faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).