Middle East Monitor / February 15, 2022
The head of the Palestinian movement Hamas’ political bureau Ismail Haniyeh yesterday met with the Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative (Al-Mubadara) Mustafa Barghouti in the Qatari capital, Doha, Anadolu reported.
A statement issued by Hamas said the two Palestinian officials discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, ways to enhance national unity, and prospects for cooperation in order to rearrange the Palestinian internal political arena in accordance with a unified program that brings together all Palestinians.
“The two sides have discussed the importance of unifying efforts and coordinating to confront the [Israeli] occupation’s plans, which target the Palestinian land and people,” the statement said.
According to the statement, Haniyeh and Barghouti also stressed on the need to “continue coordination and cooperation efforts in order to unify the Palestinian ranks.”
The Palestinian National Initiative is a political and social movement founded in 2002 by Palestinian figures, most notably Haidar Abdel Shafi in Gaza and Mustafa Barghouti in the West Bank.
The Palestinian arena has been suffering from a political and geographical division since 2007, when Hamas won the election but its rival, Fatah, refused to cede power.
