Initiative calls on Hamas to honor prior international agreements.
By JPOST.COM STAFFbarghouti poster298 88ap(photo credit: AP)
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti was reportedly conducting efforts recently to get all Palestinian movements to hold a ceasefire with Israel.
According to a report by the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, Barghouti's initiative would have the Palestinians declare a ceasefire unilaterally. Furthermore, they would urge the international community, especially Europe, to have Israel cease military activity in the Palestinian territories.
The plan, if accepted, would not necessarily address the recognition of Israel or its right to exist, but rather, it would urge Hamas to respect all prior agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinians.
In order to set the plan in motion, Barghouti has been working to convene a meeting that would include all Palestinian factions. The meeting would likely be hosted by Qatar.
The Ma'an report also said that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal met with PLO leader Farouk Kaddoumi in Qatar a few days ago in order to discuss the initiative.
Barghouti reportedly hoped that the Palestinian convention would produce an understanding common to all participating factions.
