Hamas: ‘Breakthrough’ in Palestinian talks

A senior Hamas political official says breakthrough deals have been reached with the rival Palestinian Authority on a reconciliation pact. The message from Izzat Rishiq was posted on his Facebook page Monday shortly before a planned news conference in Qatar with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. Rishiq says a “major breakthrough” was reached, without specifying what it was. Talks have focused on forming a future unity government and releasing political prisoners in the West Bank, which is controlled by Abbas. Hamas officials had previously suggested that Abbas would become prime minister in an interim Palestinian government that would prepare for general elections in Hamas-controlled Gaza and the West Bank.