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Rival
Palestinian Groups Agree to Unity Government |
Posted:
02.12.07
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Rival Palestinian political groups, Hamas and Fatah, have reached
an agreement for a unity government in an attempt to end infighting
that has killed more than 90 Palestinians since December.
Printer-friendly version: PDF
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 The
two competing Palestinian political parties met in Saudi Arabia
to try to hash out details of a unity government and ease tensions
between the parties' military wings.
Their goal also was to end an international boycott that has
blocked millions of dollars' worth of financial aid from the United
States and Europe.
The two groups have been fighting since the Islamist party Hamas,
which advocates the destruction of Israel and is considered a
terrorist organization by the West, won parliamentary elections
in the Palestinian region in January 2006. The group's surprising
victory overturned decades of rule by the secular Fatah Party,
which favors a two-state -- Israel and Palestine -- solution.
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The Mecca
Declaration |
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Referred to as the "Mecca Declaration" because it took
place in Islam's holiest city, the agreement will create a coalition
government with the two groups for the first time.
It was signed by Khaled Mashaal of Hamas and Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.
 "These
dark days will be completely gone," Mashaal said when he
signed the accord. "Our Arabic, Islamic unity has brought
us together, shining again."
It does not, however, address completely the three conditions
that international leaders have said are essential to lift the
aid boycott: the recognition of Israel's right to exist, the renunciation
of violence, and a willingness to abide by prior agreements made
between Israel and the Palestinians.
The first two conditions are not mentioned and the third incompletely,
promising "respect" for prior agreements.
The deal also did not solve the issue of who controls the government's
security forces, a key detail since much of the fighting has been
between security forces loyal to Fatah and Hamas militiamen. Under
the new deal, Hamas will propose candidates for the position of
interior minister, which controls the security forces, and Abbas
will choose one of them.
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Israel's
reaction |
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 Israel
has not formally accepted or rejected the Palestinian agreement
but did insist that the Palestinians agree to the three conditions.
"Israel insists that all of the Quartet's demands are met,
as they were presented in the past," Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert said at a cabinet meeting Sunday, the Jerusalem Post
reported.
The Quartet is a group of Mideast negotiators made up of representatives
from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United
Nations.
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International
aid |
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Since Hamas took over the legislature, the international community
has suspended funding to the government that used to pay the salaries
of officials and lawmakers. Humanitarian aid for food and medicine
has been allowed, according to the U.S. State Department.
 The
block will continue at least until a Quartet meeting scheduled
for Feb. 21.
The fighting between Palestinians has upset many who were used
to seeing Israel as the sole enemy.
"When the Israelis killed my older son, it was very painful
for me, but I understand the logic that this is our enemy and
the Israelis can kill you easily. But when a Palestinian kills
a Palestinian, when a Muslim kills a Muslim, this is haram. It's
forbidden," said Nahid Haboush, whose 6-year-old son was
killed by a stray bullet last week.
--Compiled
by Annie Schleicher for NewsHour Extra
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