The positive atmosphere engendered by the Fatah-Hamas agreement announced after their Sept. 24 meeting in the Palestinian Embassy in Istanbul is the product of a slow but serious behind-the-scenes effort. But the success ultimately was the result of the political environment and the personal chemistry between two Palestinians.

For years, negotiations and agreements between Hamas and Fatah have eventually proven to be futile, but this time there are many signs that we are indeed witnessing a genuine breakthrough.

Politically, not only are both sides exhausted and the pressure on them huge, but the Trump administration’s unilateral vision plus the Israeli efforts to bypass Palestinians with two Gulf states have jolted the most radical among Palestinians to take a deep look at what is happening. Palestinian leaders met in person and through electronic means Sept. 3 and vowed that the existential threats to the Palestinian national movement can no longer be ignored. It was also clear that the reconciliation train is finally on the right track.

The two-day meetings in Istanbul by representatives of the Fatah and Hamas movements signaled that both sides have agreed to try to resolve all internal issues between them through general elections.