Fatah and Hamas agree on reconciliation plan

MIDDLE EAST:FATAH AND Hamas yesterday signed a seven-point Yemeni-sponsored reconciliation plan and pledged to hold direct talks with the aim of restoring Palestinian Authority rule to Gaza.

The rival factions agreed to resume direct dialogue in early April, instal a national unity government, hold early presidential and parliamentary elections, and reform the security services and administration in order to exclude factional favouritism.

The declaration of principles, signed by Hamas deputy chief Moussa Abu Marzouk and senior Fateh official Azzam al-Ahmed, affirmed the "unity of the Palestinian people, territory and authority."

The object of the agreement is to restore the Palestinian situation to what it was before last summer's bloody clashes which left Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip. In retaliation president Mahmoud Abbas cut all contacts with Hamas, dissolved the Hamas-led national unity government, and appointed a caretaker cabinet headed by former finance minister Salam Fayyad.

The breakthrough came after five days of indirect talks and a last ditch intervention by Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who redrafted the text to address the concerns of both sides.

While they had accepted the initiative as the framework for a deal, Fatah had made a Hamas hand-over of control of Gaza a precondition for talks, while Hamas insisted that the withdrawal of its forces from official buildings and security facilities in the Strip should coincide with the restoration of a unity government.

Hamas also said the Palestinian Authority should free detained West Bank Hamas activists.

Since Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Arab governments have been exerting constant pressure on the Palestinian Authority and Hamas to reconcile, the Sanaa accord is certain to be endorsed by the Arab summit scheduled to meet next weekend in Damascus.

Since an overwhelming majority of Palestinians insists on an end to division and the re-establishment of national unity, both sides are under popular pressure to reach a settlement.

However, Israel and the US strongly oppose the restoration of co-operation between the factions and can be expected to step up efforts to foil a final deal.

The signing of the accord coincided with talks between US vice-president Dick Cheney and Mr Abbas in Ramallah, but neither commented on the development.

On Saturday, Hamas and Islamic Jihad representatives met with Egyptian security officials to discuss the opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt and the release of 50 Hamas men detained by Egyptian police.

The London-based Arabic daily al-Hayat also reported that Egyptian intermediaries told the factions that Israel would agree to a year's truce if they would halt rocket attacks from Gaza.

The newspaper reported if the ceasefire is implemented in Gaza, Israel would agree to its extension to the West Bank.

However, an Israel official source denied there has been indirect contact with Hamas and Islamic Jihad and said: "Our position is that if they don't shoot at us from Gaza, we won't shoot back."