Palestinian factions sign unity deal while Israel calls for cancelling it

[News_Editor]

Palestinian factions sign unity deal while Israel calls for cancelling it

2011-05-03 23:22:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, on Tuesday signed the historic agreement for a future unity government in Cairo, Egypt, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The deal was signed by representatives of the 13 Palestinian factions including Palestinian Authority President and Fatah party leader Mahmoud Abbas and the long-time antagonist Hamas.

A formal ceremony will be held on Wednesday in Cairo in which the presence of Hamas leader Khalid Mash'al is expected. Under the agreement, presidential and legislative elections will take place within a year in Palestine.

All factions welcomed the agreement although some of them, such as the leftist Palestine People's Party, voiced their reservations on several issues but decided to sign the deal for the best interest of Palestinians.

On the other hand, Israel condemned Fatah for signing the deal. Furthermore, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Abbas to cancel the deal before being officially launched on Wednesday.

Previously, Netanyahu called on the Fatah party to choose either peace with Israel or peace with Hamas as there "is no possibility for peace with both." Fatah and Israel engaged in the last year's unsuccessful peace talks amidst Hamas rejection.

Israel and the Palestinian Authority stalled the negotiations after the Jewish nation refused to extend a moratorium on settlement building in occupied Palestinian territory in September. In response, Abbas broke off direct talks after as recommended by Hamas.

The Jewish nation resumed settlement constructions even though they were labeled as a violation of international law by the international community. Furthermore, Israel blames Hamas from the constant rocket and terror attacks, mostly in its southern regions.

PM Netanyahu said that the agreement demonstrates the weakness of Fatah and indicates that Hamas will seize control of the remaining Palestine territory, as it did in the Gaza Strip.

In October 2009, Fatah and Hamas almost reached a similar deal but talks broke off after the latter protested that the terms of the agreement were reviewed without their consent.

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