Report: Fatah and Hamas to delay formation of unity government

[oberliner]

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Fatah and Hamas have reportedly agreed to delay the formation of a unity government until after the UN September statehood bid due to an impasse in reconciliation talks over the position of prime minister.

President Mahmoud Abbas suggested to Hamas through Turkish intermediaries that the first stage of reconciliation be delayed and the status quo be maintained until after September, the Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday.

Abbas is reported to have visited Turkey a few days ago to make the offer, coinciding with a visit by Hamas’ chief in exile Khalid Mashaal, who was meeting with Turkish officials to discuss how to overcome disagreements over the post of prime minister.

Reconciliation talks will instead reportedly move into phase two; the reactivation of the PLO.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=401027

[Hardrada]

1. Thanks! Wheeeeeew! I almost completely forgot about

the Middle East. That was close.

[oberliner]

2. No one seems really all that interested in what is actually going on in the region

People instead prefer to rehash the same arguments from the last X number of years.

Look at the threads with the most responses and you may see what I mean.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. I suspect some people are interested, but don't say anything much...

Me, I'll have a response once I can work the flotilla and apartheid into it ;) In the meantime I just aimlessly kick OPs I find interesting...

btw, I thought yr Benny Morris thread had a lot of promise until it got overrun with multiple scattergun mentions of George Galloway and anyone and everything else other than Benny Morris...

[oberliner]

4. But those other threads tend to dominate

Threads about the Palestinian political situation tend not to generate a lot of discussion for some reason.

As for the Benny Morris thread, that seems to have gone off the rails so I withdrew.

[bemildred]

5. You have to be quick.

Once the waving of the bloody shirts begins, everyone becomes unhinged, and it's too late.