Montreal, June 3, 2014 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)—a grass-roots citizens’ group with 45,000 adherents—welcomes the formation of a unity government that includes the two largest Palestinian political parties — Fatah and Hamas. The new government was sworn in yesterday, June 2. Israel’s right-wing coalition government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has already announced it will retaliate by withholding taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which will make it difficult for the Palestinian Authority to deliver health care and education services.

CJPME Factsheet 131, published August, 2011: This factsheet provides a historical overview of the emergence of Fatah and Hamas, their political and ideological differences, and their struggle for power until the 2011 Unity Agreement. Palestinian political reconciliation between Fatah, Hamas and 11 other Palestinian factions strengthen their efforts to garner international support, recognition and ultimately, statehood.