Lead Article/Background

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The Fatah–Hamas 2012 Cairo Agreement was a reconciliation accord between Fatah, ruling the Palestinian National Authority and the (Fundamentalist Organization) Hamas, ruling over the Gaza Strip. Signed in May 2012 by Mahmoud Abbas, president of Fatah and Khaled Mashal, leader of Hamas, the overall objective of the agreement was the formation of an interim government to prepare elections for a new Palestinian government.[1] However, the agreement soon fell apart, and steps of major reconciliation were not made in January of 2013.

Background

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Tensions between political parties Fatah and Hamas have gone on since 2007. Problems between the two parties have been numerous, but namely arguments have risen on how to deal with Israel. Hamas has written off an type of settlement with Israel, believe it should not have a right to exist in the first place, while Fatah has agreed to work with Israel in the past.[2] On 8 February 2007, Hamas and Fatah signed the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement. In April 2011, they signed an agreement in Cairo, intended to end the Fatah–Hamas conflict. On 7 February 2012, the parties signed the Doha agreement in the Qatari capital Doha, placing Abbas at the head of an interim government of independent technocrats charged with organizing elections later in 2012.[3][4] The accord, however, failed on implementation. Other agreements that attempted to bridge peace between the two parties were the 2012 Cairo agreement, the Fatah-Hamas Mecca Agreement, the 2011 Cairo agreement, the 2012 Doha agreement, and the 2014 Beach Refugee Camp agreement.[5]

Agreement

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On 20 May 2012, Hamas and Fatah signed a further agreement in Cairo to prepare elections for a new unity government for the West Bank and the Gaza. The new agreement essentially took steps to carry out the previous Fatah–Hamas Doha Agreement, particularly the registering of new voters in the Gaza Strip and the formation of an interim government from 27 May.[6] Additionally, neither party was able to come to a compromise with each other's requests. Fatah's issue with Hamas was over their power in the Gaza Strip, citing that Hamas should give up some of its control. Hamas, on the other hand, requested that Fatah stop appeasing Israel.[7] Both parties could not produce a reconciliation, and thus the agreement was on hiatus until May 2012, but still neither party could come to sign the agreement due to more disagreements.[8]

References 

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  1. ^ Rudoren, Jodi; Akram, Fares (2012-05-20). "Hamas and Fatah Agree in Cairo to Begin Work on Elections". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  2. ^ Wiener-Bronner, Danielle. "A Brief History of the Fraught Relationship Between Fatah and Hamas". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  3. ^ Abbas to head Palestinian unity government. Al Jazeera, 7 February 2012
  4. ^ New Palestinian government will respect PLO accords, Abbas says. AFP/Al Arabiya, 19 February 2012
  5. ^ "Another Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement bites the dust". Al-Monitor. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  6. ^ Palestinians Sign Deal to Set Up Elections. New York Times, 20 May 2012
  7. ^ "Another Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement bites the dust". Al-Monitor. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  8. ^ Wiener-Bronner, Danielle. "A Brief History of the Fraught Relationship Between Fatah and Hamas". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2017-03-11.