Did Hamas and Fatah really agree to form a unity government?

AFP reports:

The main Palestinian parties on Tuesday announced a deal to form a national unity government prior to the holding of elections, after three days of reconciliation talks in Moscow.

"We have reached agreement under which, within 48 hours, we will call on (Palestinian leader) Mahmud Abbas to launch consultations on the creation of a government" of national unity, senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad told a press conference, speaking in Arabic.

After the government is formed, the Palestinians would set up a national council, which would include Palestinians in exile, and hold elections.

"Today the conditions for (such an initiative) are better than ever," said Ahmad.

Palestinian media has not made a big deal over this. They continue to write about how Hamas and Fatah are insulting each other.

This small part of the AFP article might explain why:

The non-official talks in Moscow began on Sunday under Russian auspices with the goal of restoring "the unity of the Palestinian people." Representatives came from Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other factions.

And what was accomplished? "Within 48 hours, we will call on (Palestinian leader) Mahmud Abbas to launch consultations on the creation of a government."

In a couple of days they'll ask Abbas to consider the idea.

In other words, nothing happened - except that Russia is showing how it wants to be more of a player in the region, and the Palestinians are anxious to see that happen on the eve of a Trump administration.

Notably, Islamic Jihad was part of this, and wants to be involved in any unity government. So the mythical unified PA would be dominated by three terror groups, not just two.

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