The leaders of the two main rival Palestinian movements met yesterday, Wednesday, in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Although no information was released about the content of the tripartite meeting, it remains very important, in view of the meeting of all Palestinian factions next Sunday in Cairo.

According to the Turkish presidency, Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas leader, Ismail Haniya, were received at the presidential palace.

Erdogan has long maintained good relations with the two leaders here and intends to use his political capital to promote Palestinian reconciliation.

The last meeting between the two rival Palestinian leaders was held on July 5, 2022, in Algiers, and after many years of fighting between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, Abbas and Haniya met when hosted by Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Taboun.

Sources close to the Palestinian presidency underlined to AFP the importance of this tripartite meeting, which made it possible to reassert Palestinian unity and the end of Palestinian division, especially after Israeli aggression in Jerusalem and the West Bank and settlement activities.

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The meetings come as the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is at a standstill, and the occupied West Bank is experiencing the most violent clashes in years.

All Palestinian factions are expected in Cairo next Sunday, July 30, in an effort to overcome divisions.

According to a Palestinian Authority official, Abbas is the one who invited all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad organization, an invitation that will allow discussions on how to counter aggression against the Palestinian people and strengthen Palestinian unity.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s accession to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) will also be discussed.

The Turkish President strongly condemned the clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in early April, saying Israel had crossed a red line.

Benjamin Netanyahu was also expected in Ankara this week, but the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit was postponed as he underwent surgery last Sunday to have a pacemaker fitted.

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