A series of attempts to resolve the hostility between Fatah and Hamas have been made since their 2006–2007 conflict and the subsequent violent conflict over the Gaza Strip.
Despite a number of agreements, those attempts have not yet been successful, with Hamas still exercising full control of the Gaza Strip, despite the formation of the "unity government" in June 2014.
Background Until the First Intifada, Fatah was the sole dominating party in the Palestinian political arena, including the PLO. In 1987, Hamas arose as a resistance movement against the Israeli occupation. Following the Oslo Accords, the PLO, of which Fatah still was the dominant member, formally denounced armed resistance and recognized Israel. Hamas refused to recognize Israel and opposed the Oslo Accords and subsequent agreements between the PLO and Israel. Under pressure of Israel and the international community, Fatah attempted to eliminate Hamas, especially after Mahmoud Abbas had succeeded Arafat as President of the Palestinian National Authority. Tensions mounted ahead the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005 and culminated in the Battle of Gaza in June 2007, resulting in a split of the Palestinian government.
In reconciliation attempts, Hamas has mainly focussed on reform of the PLO and its inclusion in the organisation. After Hamas' victory in the 2006 elections, it unsuccessfully tried to run the PA Government due to Israeli and international boycott.
Although Hamas has maintained that it is ready to conclude a long-term truce with Israel (Hudna), it has vowed to never recognize Israel, because this would imply the recognition of the "Zionist occupation of Palestine", which Hamas views as an Arab Islamic country. In the view of Hamas, recognition of Israel would imply the acceptance of the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians during the Nakba during the 1948 Arab–Israeli war. Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel and denounce armed resistance, unlike the PLO and implicitly Fatah, has been the main reason for Israel and the international community to oppose the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Fatah has met with massive external pressure not to cooperate with Hamas.
Israeli obstruction attempts Israel has consistently objected to Hamas being included in any PA government. In 2009, for example, Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would never make peace with Hamas and "cannot accept Hamas as a negotiating partner". Following the April 2011 Cairo Agreement, he ruled out a peace agreement for that reason. He said: "The PA must choose either peace with Israel or peace with Hamas. There is no possibility for peace with both" and "How can you talk to us about peace when you're talking about peace with Hamas. You can choose [to make] peace with Israel or you can choose peace with Hamas"."Abbas reacts: PM must choose between peace, settlements". Jerusalem Post, 27 April 2011
President Abbas has consistently been under pressure not to make any deal with Hamas. In September 2013, Abbas admitted that he was under pressure from the US and Israel not to achieve unity with Hamas."Abbas says peace with Israel will be brought to a referendum for Palestinians ′everywhere′". Khaled abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post, 2 September 2013"Abbas said that he was under pressure from the US and Israel not to achieve unity with Hamas." PLC council member for Hamas "Anwar Zaboun" said that both the US and EU maintain a veto on the reconciliation."Palestinian split: Views from Hamas and Fatah, six years on" (see section "Anwar Zaboun"). BBC, 17 June 2013- "In terms of the reconciliation, I know there is a veto from the United States of America and the European Union. There is pressure."
In 2011, an Israeli official declared that Israel would cut its ties with the PA if it brought Hamas into its government. In reaction to the February 2012 Doha Agreement and the announcement of a unity caretaker government composed of non-affiliated technocrats (thus without Hamas members), Netanyahu reiterated that Abbas must choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas, but that he had chosen "to abandon the path of peace and join with Hamas"."Netanyahu: PA President Must Choose Between Peace With Israel and Peace With Hamas". Barak Ravid, Haaretz, 6 February 2012"Abbas to head Palestinian unity government". Al Jazeera, 7 February 2012 When Abbas ten days later openly declared that the next government would remain committed to all signed obligations and agreements, rather than silently let run a non-political technocrats government, Hamas was angered"New Palestinian government will respect PLO accords, Abbas says" . AFP/Al Arabiya, 19 February 2012 and the unity government did not emerge.
When eventually a national unity government was formed in 2014, without any Hamas ministers,"Who's Who in the New PA Government" . The Jerusalem Fund, 9 June 2014 Israel nevertheless condemned the unity government, imposed sanctions on the new PA government and ended peace talks with Abbas.Palestinian unity government of Fatah and Hamas sworn in. Peter Beaumon, Guardian, 2 June 2014
One of the effective means of pressure at times used by Israel is withholding of taxes it collects on behalf of the PA. Israel collectively punished the Palestinians, for example, following the formation of the 2006 PA government and the successive 2007 unity government, following the May 2011 reconciliation agreement and after UN applications."Israel’s retaliatory seizure of tax", pp. 10–11. Al-Haq, 1 April 2015. Here available
Israel and the United States have effectively opposed reconciliation, according to Jimmy Carter."Carter says Hamas must be included". Al Jazeera, 29 January 2009."Carter said reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, the faction led by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, had been 'objected to and obstructed by the US and Israel'".
2005 Cairo Declaration
On 19 March 2005, twelve Palestinian factions, including Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) signed the Palestinian Cairo Declaration. The Declaration reaffirmed the status of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people"PFLP and DFLP urge Abbas to preserve the Cairo declaration, honour the call for PLO reform". Ma'an News Agency, 20 July 2007 through the participation in it of all forces and factions according to democratic principles. The Declaration implied a reform of the PLO by the inclusion in the PLO of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It also called for unity of the Palestinian factions against the Israeli occupation and avoidance of further violent interactions between the Palestinian groups.
2006 Prisoners' Document
In May 2006, leaders of 5 Palestinian factions in an Israeli prison, including from Fatah and Hamas, signed a National Conciliation Document, known as the Prisoners' Document. It was written with the intention to reconcile all factions and unite them in their struggle against the Israeli occupation and form a government of national unity. It envisioned an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. President Abbas immediately endorsed the Document, which implicitly recognizes Israel. He demanded, however, that Hamas explicitly approve it, threatening with a national referendum on the Document. Eventually, the political leadership of all factions endorsed a revised version of the Prisoners' Document. Hamas refused, however, to explicitly recognize Israel and to forswear armed resistance within the occupied territories. Israel quickly dismissed the Document because it did not explicitly recognize Israel.
On 11 September 2006, President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh reached a tentative agreement to form a government of national unity. They agreed that the new government should be based on the Prisoners' Document."The Arab-Israeli Conflict: To Reach a Lasting Peace" , p. 2–4 and p. 27 (Appendix D: "The Abbas-Haniya Accord"). Middle East Report N°58. International Crisis Group, 5 October 2006. Source .p. 27: "The government will respect the agreements signed by the PLO, the political frame of reference for the PA, insofar as this may uphold the basic interests of the Palestinian people and protect their rights.""Hamas, Fatah agree on coalition government". AP, 11 September 2006 On 20 September, the Palestinian daily al-Ayyam published the text of the draft-agreement, called "Program for a new government", consisting of 7 points. The accord states that the government will "respect" the agreements signed by the PLO, and support plans based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. In the Abbas–Haniyeh draft agreement, Hamas for the first time recognizes the peace agreements between the PLO and Israel.
When Abbas in a speech before the UN General Assembly on 21 September claimed that the program for a new government was strictly in line with the Quartet conditions (commitment to the principles of nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap),"Quartet Statement London, 30 January 2006". un.org"Abbas makes Israel recognition pledge". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), 22 September 2006 he drew, however, strong opposition from more radical members of Hamas. The next day, Haniyeh declared that he would not head a government that recognizes Israel, but he reiterated Hamas' readiness to establish a Palestinian state in the occupied territories and to honor a long-term truce with Israel."Palestinian PM won't recognize Israel". AP, 22 September 2006 On 23 September, Abbas declared the unity effort "back to zero" and both parties blamed each other for not respecting the agreement."Abbas says unity effort `back to zero`". AP, 23 September 2006 On 16 December 2006, Abbas unilaterally issued a call for early parliamentary and presidential elections, displeasing Hamas.
February 2007 Mecca Agreement On 8 February 2007, Fatah and Hamas sign the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement, agreeing to stop the military clashes in the Gaza Strip and the formation of a national unity government.
March 2008 Sana'a Declaration On 23 March 2008, Hamas and Fatah sign the Sana'a Declaration that called for a return of the Gaza Strip to the pre-June 2007 situation. Disagreement about the interpretation immediately appeared. Fatah said that Hamas should relinquish its hold on Gaza first, while Hamas demanded the reinstatement of the Hamas-led unity government.
On 8 November 2008, reconciliation talks due to be held in Cairo called off after Hamas announced a boycott in protest at the detention of hundreds of its members by President Abbas's security forces.
2009–2010 talks
2009 talks At the end of February 2009, Hamas and Fatah start talks in Cairo after the Israeli assault on Gaza in Operation Cast Lead that began on 27 December 2008 and ended on 18 January 2009.
On 7 March 2009, Salam Fayyad submits his resignation as prime minister to pave the way for the formation of a national unity government."Palestinian PM Fayyad steps down". BBC News, 7 March 2009
On 12 March 2009, the parties reportedly reach a compromise on the issue of the Palestinian Security Services, and on 15 March on holding presidential and legislative elections by 25 January 2010.
On 17 March, problems appear on the terms of a national unity government. Fatah clings to adherence to the Quartet conditions, including recognition of Israel and focus on negotiations with Israel, while Hamas wants a majority in a new government and refuses to recognize Israel."Palestinian unity talks failing". Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, Inter Press Service, 19 March 2009 The talks stalled in October due to "inappropriate conditions."
2010 talks