Bahrain Welcomes Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation

Bahrain on Thursday welcomed a recent reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian factions.



"Bahrain hopes the deal will contribute to ending Palestinian rifts and help the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement "ed by Bahrain's official news agency.



It went on to say that the deal had highlighted the "wisdom" of the Palestinian leadership, who had managed to end inter-Palestinian divisions.



On Wednesday, Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation deal that aims to end years of divisions between the two factions. The deal, welcomed by most Arab states, calls for the formation of a national unity government and the holding of elections.



Relations between Fatah and Hamas had been tense since the latter seized control of the Gaza Strip following deadly clashes with pro-Fatah forces in 2007 – one year after Hamas defeated Fatah in Palestinian legislative polls.



By Ahmed al-Masri



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Doha