Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal stated on Sunday his movement was in the final stages of achieving reconciliation with the rival Fatah party after he met Saudi officials in Riyadh. "We achieved great strides toward achieving reconciliation," Meshaal said, according to Reuters. "We are in the final stages now."
An Egyptian plan to promote reconciliation between the two Palestinian groups has called for presidential and legislative elections to be held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip next June. Meshaal said Hamas still had some points to resolve in the Egyptian proposal. "We all agree that the signing of the (reconciliation) will take place in Cairo," he said.
His talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal were aimed at helping reconciliation of the feud, Saudi officials said. "We still hope that the kingdom plays a special role alongside Egypt and Arab countries to help us first succeed in sponsoring the Palestinian reconciliation and unify the Palestinian position and also to prompt Arabs to confront the stubborn Israeli administration," Meshaal said.
