Hamas, Fatah agree to 'unified vision' for Palestinian state

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Leading Palestinian rival groups Hamas and Fatah on Thursday agreed to a unified vision in their fight for a Palestinian nation.

The groups issued a joint statement after the meeting in Turkey. It said Hamas and Fatah have a "unified vision" to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and continue its fight for an independent country with Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas and Fatah said they will continue to work out differences and capitalize on previous talks they have held in Ramallah and Beirut.

Azzam al-Ahmad, of Fatah's Central Committee, told Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency that coming elections will include Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. He said the outcome of the meeting will be given to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to issue a decree.

"It was agreed to hold legislative elections, followed by presidential elections, then elections for the National Council," al-Ahmad said.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, tweeted that both groups coming together would help Palestinians form a strategy in the long-running campaign for a Palestinian state and dispute with Israel.

"The dialogue is an important step towards reconciliation and partnership, and unifying the Palestinian stance in the light of the consensus on rejecting all the liquidation projects against the Palestinian cause," al-Sheikh said.

Earlier this month, Palestinian leadership condemned U.S.-brokered deals to normalize relations between Israel and both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.