Fatah and Hamas hold reconciliation talks

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Representatives of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and of Islamist organization Hamas resumed reconciliation talks on Sunday.

The talks were held simultaneously in Ramallah, in the West Bank, and Gaza City, in the Gaza Strip.

Sunday's talks were the latest attempt by Fatah and Hamas to end a bitter rivalry they have shared since 2006.

That is when Hamas was democratically elected in the Gaza Strip in a Palestinian parliament vote. Soon after, they broke off with the government of Abbas over power-sharing conflicts.

Fatah and Hamas have made several failed attempts at reconciliation, including holding a series of inconclusive talks since the start of the year in Cairo, where they are due to meet again on July 7th.

However, the talks have deadlocked over Fatah's insistence that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept existing agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

Hamas delegate Omar Abed Al Radeq was in Ramallah on Sunday. He expressed hopes that this round of talks would result in positive agreements between the two sides.

Representatives of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and of Islamist organization Hamas resumed reconciliation talks on Sunday. (CCTV.com)