The Wire

Palestinian territories have recently been operating under what amounts to two separate governments – one in the West Bank, run by Fatah, and one in Gaza, run by Hamas. But now these parties are seeking to end the bitter division, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has agreed to head an interim unity government that will prepare to hold elections.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that it is impossible to reach peace with a government that includes Hamas.But some observers say that Netanyahu’s hard line in negotiations has driven the Palestinian president towards reconciliation with Hamas.