Publication

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Mashal met in Cairo on November 24, 2011 in order to discuss implementation of the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas signed in May 2011. At the end of the meeting the two leaders issued enthusiastic declarations about historic progress. However, this brief contends, two radically different versions regarding what was accomplished at this meeting emerged from the Palestinian public discourse and various commentaries.