RAMALLAH, November 4 (JMCC) - Reconciliation talks slated to resume on Nov. 9 might be hindered as the rising clout of Al Qassam in Gaza dims prospects for mending the Hamas-Fatah rift.

Most Gazans are not optimistic that Hamas – considered a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel – will end the divide with Fatah, which dominates the internationally backed Palestinian Authority (PA) in charge of the West Bank.

But they want such reconciliation, because it would not only improve their standard of living and pave the way for overdue elections, but also enable Palestinians to present a united front in negotiations with Israel on a future Palestinian state.

Read at the full story at Christian Science Monitor...