Postponement

The talks had been postponed on Saturday after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the proposed unity government and then appeared to have been cancelled just hours before Erekat made his announcement. 

Marzouk told Al Jazeera's correspondent in Damascus, Zeina Khodr, that the two sides had disagreed over policy recognition.

Abbas wants Hamas to recognise all past political agreements signed by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Israel. Hamas only accepts policies it agrees with.

Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister, said on Sunday that Hamas was not willing to recognise Israel despite offering a long-term truce with the Jewish state.
   
"We accept a Palestinian state on the lands [Israel] occupied in 1967, but in return for a long-term truce and not recognition," he said.

He also said there would be no new crisis even if Abbas and Meshaal failed to reach a full agreement at the meeting.
   
"Ninety per cent of the issues have been agreed upon. The remaining issues include those relating to the political agenda and key ministries," Haniya told reporters in Gaza.
   
"With a more focused and comprehensive dialogue, we will be able to reach final understandings that will prepare the ground for the formation of a national unity government," he added.