Palestinian faction reconciliation talks resumed in Cairo with meetings of five committees to negotiate details between Hamas and Fatah. The talks will continue for ten days and may result in an agreement, the chances of which bolstered following the past weekend’s resignation of pro-Western Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad.
Turkish officials declared the need to cease including abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in truce talks with Hamas due to the extremist organization’s demands. The officials also cited Israel’s reluctance to pursueTurkish initiatives as preventing an agreement. Meanwhile, in Israel, groups continue protesting in Israel to encourage the government to actively engage Hamas in order to ensure the release of Shalit.
Oh, and Merry Purim.