Palestinian accord ends four-year rift

THIRTEEN PALESTINIAN factions yesterday signed a reconciliation accord, ending the rift between Fatah and Hamas and paving the way for the formation of a unity government and elections within a year.

The document, brokered by Egypt and initialled in Cairo, was accepted by Fatah, its rival Hamas and all other factions, including the secular Popular Front, Islamic Jihad and the left-wing Palestinian People’s Party.

A ceremony attended by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas politburo chairman Khaled Mishaal is set for today. Mr Abbas is expected to follow this up by paying his first visit to Gaza since June 2007, when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip after five days of clashes with Fatah.

The administrative status quo, with Hamas in charge of Gaza and Fatah controlling the West Bank, will be maintained until elections produce power-sharing.

Implementation will proceed according to a plan agreed during a meeting in Damascus between Mr Abbas and Mr Mishaal. Priority will be given to establishing a caretaker cabinet and a security council charged with integrating the security forces of Fatah and Hamas, with the aim of creating a non-factional, professional force.

This is likely to be a difficult task, because Hamas’s security apparatus comprises “resistance” fighters independent of outside influence, while the Fatah-dominated security agencies have been recruited and trained under US auspices to prevent violence against Israelis. Egyptian military and intelligence personnel will be involved in this effort.

The issue of who is to become prime minister is contentious.

De facto Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh has declared willingness to resign as soon as the transitional cabinet is formed but both Hamas and Fatah reject the reappointment of current West Bank premier Salam Fayyad, who enjoys the support of the US and the EU. Hamas regards him as hostile and too dependent on the US to head a government representing both major factions.

Fatah, which has protested against his premiership for many months, fears his popularity. Mr Fayyad said that the parties had decided that resistance against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory should be by peaceful rather than violent means.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad have vowed to maintain a truce prohibiting the firing of rockets and mortars into Israel.

The new government will not be involved in negotiations with Israel as these have always been handled by the Palestine Liberation Organisation, headed by Mr Abbas. Talks were suspended last October and are not likely to resume soon.

Israel has condemned the reunification accord.