Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas traveled to Gaza Monday for negotiations with Hamas, but the two sides failed again to put the finishing touches on a national unity government made up of independent experts. Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas met for more than two hours amid reports that agreement was near, but officials said the talks ended with no accord. It was not immediately known what was still at issue. London-based Arab newspaper Al-Hayat reported on Monday that a resolution of both the economic crisis in the Palestinian territories and the issue of kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit was a prerequisite for a Palestinian unity government. "The new Palestinian government will not be set up before the Palestinians are promised that the economic siege will be removed, and a deal for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit is actualized," the report said.
Earlier, senior Palestinian sources told the Palestinian news agency Ma'an late Sunday night that Hamas and Fatah had reached an agreement on the establishment of a unity government in the Palestinian Authority. However, Fatah faction head Azzam el-Ahmad said that the deal had not been finalized and would not be until Hamas presented its candidate to replace PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.