Palestinian Authority & Hamas: Peace at last?

After years of failed mediation efforts, the elusiveness of Palestinian unity may have finally come to an end. Throughout the last decade, Palestinian politics have been dominated by two separate governments: the Palestinian Authority (PA) based in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But under Egypt’s guidance, the two sides signed an agreement on October 12 in Cairo, in which Hamas pledged to dissolve its Gaza government, permit the PA to operate in Gaza, enter into talks with PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, and participate in elections that could eventually lead to the formation of a singular Palestinian government.

Questions over the implementation of the deal still loom large, but the next part of the reconciliation process will commence on Nov. 21 when all Palestinian factions are scheduled to meet in Cairo to begin talks on creating a Palestinian unity government.