Fatah–Hamas reconciliation process December 2012, in the aftermath of the UN status upgrade of the State of Palestine and the conflict in Gaza, calls for a unified Palestinian front have increased and the political leaders of Hamas and Fatah took several steps to reconcile their differences. In a televised address, PA President Mahmoud Abbas stressed that talks with Hamas would immediately follow the Palestinians' bid to upgrade their status at the UN General Assembly—an effort that succeeded. On 13 December, Fatah allowed Hamas to hold its first rally in the West bank since 2007, and on 4 January 2013, Hamas reciprocated by allowing
Friends of Palestine in the Parliament of Norway Friends of Palestine in the Parliament of Norway Friends of Palestine in the Parliament of Norway () is a pro-Palestine caucus group consisting of members of the Parliament of Norway ("Stortinget"). The initiative to form the group was taken in late 2007, and was modelled after the pro-Israel group Israels Venner på Stortinget. After the 2009 election, the group convened. Torbjørn Røe Isaksen joined the groups for support of both Israel and Palestine, and was the only member from a non-socialist party. The leader of "Palestinas Venner" is Anette Trettebergstuen. After the 2009 election the group had 29 members. As