Palestinian factions are preparing to sit down and discuss the Egyptian drafted conciliation document at the beginning of next month, but not without their own conditions. The date scheduled for the talks is November 9 but Egypt sent its document out to the factions in question on October 21, so the parties could "make their own comments" on it.

So far, both Fateh and Hamas - the rival factions that are at the crux of these conciliation efforts - have said they accept the conciliation efforts, but with some reservations.

On October 22, Hamas politburo chief, Khaled Meshaal told the press in Damascus that he would not divulge any of the details of Hamas' comments on the document, sufficing to say that his movement certainly had some. He did, however, say that any dialogue between the factions would only succeed if Hamas' "suggestions" were taken into consideration. Basically, he said any national conciliation government would have to be on the basis of newly rehashed security services, a restructuring of the PLO and an agreement over PLC and presidential elections. Hamas has repeatedly said it would not recognize President Mahmoud Abbas' term in office after January 9, 2009.

A day later, on October 23, Fateh member Abduallah Franji Abdallah said Fateh was definitely interested in "forming a consensus government that will restore the security agenda, lift the siege and prepare for honest, democratic and friendly elections." However, he continued that his movement wanted simultaneous legislative and presidential elections in accordance with "what was approved in the legislative law." In clear reference to Hamas' threat to delegitimize Abbas' authority after January 9, Ifranji warned, "The president's term is not an issue for blackmail," adding that Fateh "has no intention of bilateral dialogue with Hamas."

President Abbas said as much on October 19th, just before the Egyptians distributed their document which included points such as reconfirming the unity of Palestinian territories, prohibiting the shedding of Palestinian blood, insisting on negotiations as the means of settling differences and holding concomitant presidential and legislative elections. "We agree to simultaneous elections," Ababs said. "But we reject Hamas' charge that January 9 is the last day of the presidential term. Elections must be simultaneous according to law."

Just to complicate matters even more before they are officially put on the table, on October 20, Hamas official Salah Bardawil renewed Hamas' rejection of a technocratic government as a possible solution. "We want a government that will adopt a national agenda," he insisted.

In a surprise move that was construed by some as Abbas' attempt to bridge the gap between Fateh and Hamas demands, the president removed public intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi from his post and reassigned him as the new head of the Academy of Security Sciences in Jericho and special presidential security advisor.

Hamas has long demanded a restructuring of the security services, including the sacking of Tirawi. Following the reassignment, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri drummed down the move saying, "The attempt of some people to cast Tirawi's reassignment as a move to reform the security department failed," calling the reshuffling "meaningless". Abu Zuhri said the entire Palestinian security apparatus should be reformed in accordance with a national vision and a national project.

Tirawi himself did not appear to be too fazed by the sudden shift in positions. He called the reassignment "natural", saying it was part of the overall administrative reshuffling in the PA's security services.

On October 25, some 550 Palestinian policemen were deployed in Hebron in a bid to strengthen President Abbas' control over the West Bank. This is the third Palestinian city where Palestinian security forces have been deployed, including the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Despite these efforts however, all has not been quiet on the ground. On October 23, 20-year-old Mohammed Al Baden from the Bethlehem-area village of Taqou' stabbed two Israelis in the east Jerusalem settlement of Gilo, killing one. Al Baden was shot and wounded by Israeli police at the scene and later arrested and taken to hospital for treatment. Israeli authorities later said they believed he acted alone although his family is said to have ties with the Islamic Jihad. Later that day, Israeli forces raided Taqou', closed off its entrances, surrounded Al Baden's house and arrested some of his family members including his sister. Residents of the village clashed with the invading army forces, throwing stones and bottles at them. One Palestinian man was wounded in the clashes and evacuated for treatment.

On October 22, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad travelled to the Ramallah-area village of Mazraa' Qabaliya in solidarity with farmers there during the olive picking season. The village, along with several other areas in the West Bank, have been subjected to settler attacks during the olive harvest. Fayyad said his visit was a "clear message that we are here to stay," saying that the settler violence was tantamount to terror.

Over the past week, Jewish settlers have harassed, assaulted and stole from Palestinian families harvesting their olives. In Mazraa' Qabaliya, which is virtually surrounded by Israeli settlements, settlers burned down 70 dunams of land a few weeks ago and assaulted the family working it.

On October 21, settlers attacked olive pickers in Hebron who were accompanied by members of the Christian Peacemakers Team in the city. One CPT member was injured along with a Palestinian journalist.

Furthermore, according to the Stop the Wall campaign, in the northern West Bank several farmers were not granted permits to reach their land behind the separation wall this year to pick their olives. Others were only allowed certain hours while others had their permits cancelled altogether. The restrictions have resulted in considerable financial losses for the farmers, many of whom depend on the olive season for their livelihood.

In the Gaza Strip, residents were met with yet another shutdown of crossings on October 21 after a homemade Palestinian rocket landed south of Asqalan. No injuries or damages were reported but Israel said the crossings - responsible for allowing in humanitarian aid and goods - would remain closed until further notice. The rocket was the first in over a month and technically constitutes a breach of the four-month old truce between Hamas and Israel.

In other news from Gaza, Free Gaza members Lauren Booth and Ken O'Keefe have announced the launching of "Aloha Palestine", a passenger ship service that will ostensibly run between Palestine and Cyprus. The ferry will have a capacity of 200-250 people and will make regular scheduled trips to Gaza. Israel has yet to comment on the project although it had previously said it would not continue to allow boats to dock in Gaza's ports.

In Jerusalem, the Aqsa Mosque was the scene of tension on October 21 between Muslim Palestinians and extremist Jewish Israelis. According to Sheikh Ahmad Al Khatib, the head of the Waqf authority in Jerusalem, 27 extremist Israelis broke into the Aqsa compound under police protection. Palestinians flocked to the mosque that day after a call from the Higher Islamic Council to protect the Muslim holy site. Nonetheless, the 27 Jews were allowed to perform prayers and rituals on the compound's grounds.

Head of the Palestinian negotiating team Ahmad Qrei voiced his scepticism over any real progress in the peace process during a visit to France on October 22. He told reporters that he did not want to be either pessimistic or optimistic about the negotiations but said, objectively, he did not think there would be any agreement by the end of the year.

Either way, Israel has its own issues to sort out. On October 24, the Shas Party announced it would not enter a coalition with Kadima under its new leader Tzipi Livni. According to Israeli law, Livni only has until tomorrow to form a new government before being forced to go to early elections.