Gaza City/Cairo - Hamas said Wednesday that Palestinian factions agreed in Cairo on forming a transitional unity government which would prepare for new elections by early next year, but the sides were still disputing the government's platform.
Fawzi Barhoum, a senior leader of the radical Islamist movement ruling the Gaza Strip, said in a written statement sent to journalists from Cairo that the parties agreed on the nature of the government, which will be a transitional one that is to prepare for new elections on a date no later than January 25, 2010.
Ramallah - Israeli officials met with Hamas prisoners over the past few days to discuss a prisoner exchange deal that would secure the release of an Israeli soldier held captive in the Gaza Strip for over 1,000 days, a Palestinian news agency reported Monday.
Bethlehem - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday reiterated calls for Israel to accept a two-state solution, vowing not to resume negotiations with Israel without an explicit Israeli recognition of previously signed agreements.
Gaza
Gaza City/Cairo - Talks in Cairo aimed at producing a Palestinian "national unity" government are still stalled on the issue of recognising Israel, a Hamas lawmaker said Wednesday.
Amman - The Islamic Action Front (IAF), Jordan's largest political party, on Tuesday rebuked Egypt for denying entry to the Gaza Strip for a Jordanian delegation of parliamentarians and politicians.
