Fatah accord plan given conditional support by Hamas

MIDDLE EAST:HAMAS HAS given conditional support to an Egyptian proposal to reconcile with its Fatah rival.

A spokesman for the Islamist group in Palestine, Fawzi Barhoum, said yesterday: "We will agree to the draft agreement," but he added that modifications would have to be made.

Azzam al-Ahmed, head of Fatah's parliamentary bloc, called the plan a "good foundation for an accord and for ending Palestinian divisions". He said Fatah had agreed to take part in a "comprehensive national dialogue" with the aim of reaching "an understanding on all issues."

Eleven smaller factions have also accepted the four-page plan which was formally presented to the parties last weekend. Representatives from all 13 groups are set to meet in Cairo on November 9th with the aim of ending the bitter feud between Hamas-ruled Gaza and the Fatah-dominated West Bank.

The proposal calls for the formation of a transitional unity government which would oversee new elections, depoliticise Palestinian security forces and bring about an end to the siege of Gaza and provides for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.

If Hamas agrees to this provision, President Mahmoud Abbas's term, due to end in January 2009, would be extended until 2010 when legislative elections are scheduled.

Unless Hamas and Fatah reach an accommodation on this provision, the Palestinians are set to face a constitutional crisis when Mr Abbas's four-year term ends early next year.

Hamas could insist that he step down while Fatah could argue that he should stay in office until a new legislative council is chosen.

The Egyptian draft reaffirms the role of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), the Fatah-run umbrella grouping of secular factions, as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Palestinians and calls for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the independent Palestinian National Initiative to be granted membership. The text also calls for elections to the PLO's parliament-in-exile, the Palestinian National Council (PNC).

While the accord would empower Mr Abbas to continue negotiations with Israel, a final agreement would have to be submitted to a referendum, or presented for approval to the expanded PNC.

Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Egypt have been trying to mediate the formation of a unity government since Hamas's victory in the 2006 parliamentary election prompted a boycott of the movement by Fatah and the international community, street fighting in Gaza in 2007 and the division between Gaza and the West Bank.