Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., June 16, 2008 Sivan 13, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:44 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

From left: Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, PA Chair Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh praying in Mecca on Thursday. (AP) Last update - 10:41 16/06/2008 Fatah and Hamas sign deal on unity government By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies Tags: Israel, Hamas, Fatah  The leaders of the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a deal on a unity government Thursday night, the culmination of two days of intensive negotiations in Mecca. (Click here for the full text of the agreement) The Qatari satellite channel Al-Jazeera aired images from the signing ceremony, attended by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal. Al-Jazeera quoted Abbas as saying at the ceremony that he had asked Haniyeh to form the new government, and to respect all past peace agreements. The latter request had been a key sticking point in negotiations between the two sides. Advertisement Meshal, also speaking at the ceremony, vowed that Hamas would not break the agreement, and that all factions would respect the deal. He asked the international community to recognize the new government. Meshal pledged that the accord would put an end to violence after a series of truces between Fatah and Hamas gunmen that collapsed. "I tell those who fear that the fate of this agreement will be the same fate of the old ones," he said. "We have pledged our allegiance to God from this sacred place... and we will go back to our country fully committed to it. "I say to our young people that this is an agreement of the leadership of the biggest groups and none of you should accept any order from others to fire," he added. In Gaza City, celebratory gunfire erupted for nearly an hour after the accord was announced. Residents expressed hope that the deal will mean a lifting of a crippling international financial boycott, imposed on the government Hamas formed after winning January 2006 elections. "We've been holding our breath. God willing, this is a permanent agreement, not a temporary truce. We hope this will lead to lifting the siege," said Mahmoud Qassam, a fish seller watching the ceremony at his home in Gaza City's Shaati refugee camp, meters from Haniyeh's home. The deal sets out the principles of the unity government, including a promise that it will respect previous peace deals with Israel, delegates said. Announcing the agreement at the ceremony, Abbas aide Nabil Amr read a letter in which Abbas designated Haniyeh to draw up the new government within five weeks, according to the formula agreed on in the talks. The letter of designation also said the new Haniyeh-led government would respect past peace deals signed with Israel by the Fatah-dominated PLO. Abbas said the deal would "satisfy our people... and bring us to the shores of peace... This initiative has been crowned with success." Meshal said the accord will "unify our ranks. There is a commitment and unity. We will perseve this partnership." It said it would also follow a document drawn up last summer by Hamas and Fatah activists jailed in Israel. That document calls for a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, the areas Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War. Hamas' agreement to that part of the platform is its most concrete commitment yet to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although the group has underlined that it does not necessarily mean recognition of Israel. An agreement to abide by international demands to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous peace accords would mean the lifting of the painful financial boycott of the Palestinian government, imposed after Hamas' election victory in January 2006. Livni: New government must accept Israel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called on the international community Thursday to ensure that Israel's right to exist is respected by any Palestinian government that emerged from the talks. Speaking in Madrid, Livni said three requirements drawn up by the international community - recognition of Israel's right to exist, adoption of previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements and a renouncement of violence and terrorism - were not negotiable and applied to any future Palestinian governments. "We expect the international community to stick to its own requirements that were stated after the elections which Hamas won," she said. Earlier Thursday, Fatah official Maher Mekdad said the two sides had reached an agreement on the division of ministries in a new Cabinet. The important post of interior minister, who controls most security services, will be an independent candidate proposed by Hamas and approved by Abbas, Mekdad said. The second day of the marathon summit was spent working on the second part of the agreement: to what degree a new government will recognize previous peace deals with Israel. The delegations held talks until 3 A.M. Wednesday, then resumed midmorning Thursday in a palace overlooking the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site - a venue pointedly chosen by their Saudi hosts to pressure them to compromise. Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said in Thursday afternoon that a complete deal could be reached as early as Thursday or Friday. "We have achieved progress in some points, and there are no points that can hinder reaching an agreement, he told a press conference. We have a clear decision not to let the Mecca dialogue fail. We have no option: either to succeed or to succeed," he said. "We want to create a unity government and that is everyone's demand. We want a government that can end the blockade," Abbas said Wednesday in live television footage of the meeting overlooking the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest site. "Recent days have been very black and may God not allow them to return. It has been a catastrophe that must not be repeated. We don't want blood spilt," he said. "We will not leave this place without agreement, God willing," Meshal said Wednesday, speaking after Abbas. "If it finds us unified, the international community will have to respect our wishes and lift the unjust blockade." British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett warned Wednesday, however, that even if Hamas and Fatah form a coalition, London will shun the resulting government as long as Hamas defies international demands to recognize Israel and foreswear violence Bookmark to del.icio.us   Snoop Dogg in Israel American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan. Late date Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.   1.   The Saudi wield big clout...the US will do the same 15:40  |  albert amato 08/02/07   2.   meanlingless nonsense - now to the important stuff 16:13  |  redmike 08/02/07   3.   No more aid 16:14  |  Lynn 08/02/07   4.   Free Gilad!!! 16:15  |  Lynn 08/02/07   5.   Has the Saudis recognized Israel? 16:16  |  Mahmoud 08/02/07   6.   Does anyone know why 16:17  |  A 08/02/07   7.   The most important question is: Will any unity government meet... 16:35  |  Nadav 08/02/07   8.   All that is wanted is money 16:40  |  dona 08/02/07   9.   Saudi no longer depending upon the US 16:41  |  Mark Lincoln 08/02/07   10.   Redmike 16:44  |  leon 08/02/07   11.   Meshal 16:44  |  Jim 08/02/07   12.   re: # 6 Does anybody know? 16:51  |  Jim 08/02/07   13.   re: #3 & #4 Lynn 16:59  |  Jim 08/02/07   14.   If Abbas stands with Hamas he stands against Israel 17:01  |  bimmer 08/02/07   15.   hamas and fatah 17:19  |  colin 08/02/07   16.   photo above 17:20  |  curious 08/02/07   17.   Shun the PA Unity Govt 17:21  |  Jeff 08/02/07   18.   Mahmoud 17:38  |  Jon 08/02/07   19.   good. I bet IDF will enter Gaza again shortly 17:46  |  cholear 08/02/07   20.   Theatrix for the media At home they R sharpening knifes 17:47  |  Christian Pals 08/02/07   21.   Now there`ll be no more confusion 17:52  |  * BEN JABO 08/02/07   22.   #11 jim 17:52  |  cholear 08/02/07   23.   #16 18:00  |  cholear 08/02/07   24.   # 19 Leon 18:15  |  Jim 08/02/07   25.   Hamas-Fatah ,one big terror outfit 18:17  |  Ray 08/02/07   26.   #9 Lincoln`s quite wrong AGAIN 18:19  |  * BEN JABO 08/02/07   27.   to#curious, don`t forget Saudis themselves... 18:20  |  maurice 08/02/07   28.   Unity government 18:30  |  Erika 08/02/07   29.   No money for you... 18:31  |  Igor D. 08/02/07   30.   # 17 to answer your question... 18:33  |  Jim 08/02/07   31.   Saudis Plan 18:54  |  Robbie 08/02/07   32.   Iran-Saudis 18:59  |  Robbie 08/02/07   33.   whores 19:03  |  real vision 08/02/07   34.   erratum 19:08  |  Jim 08/02/07   35.   Interior Ministry Nomination 19:19  |  Jim 08/02/07   36.   Mecca 20:12  |  Steven Rosenfeld 08/02/07   37.   Divvying up the cabinet posts is the easy bit 20:13  |  Clickfool 08/02/07   38.   Emergency message for Abbas: Before you leave 20:18  |  bimmer 08/02/07   39.   Black Eyliner 20:43  |  M A Patel 08/02/07   40.   Yisrael Beitenu ended up with Sports Ministry 20:57  |  Paul Freedman 08/02/07   41.   # 13 Jim 21:06  |  Lynn 08/02/07   42.   Israel must act 2 terrorists as terrorists not as flower boys 21:13  |  sam 08/02/07   43.   # 21 BEN JABO 21:19  |  Lynn 08/02/07   44.   truce will end when Pal Arab leaders return home 21:23  |  Smearnov 08/02/07   45.   unpublished agreements 21:33  |  Otto Rand 08/02/07   46.   #37 ClickFOOL 21:36  |  Dave from Chicago 08/02/07   47.   Israel should now demand that the PA immediately release Shalit 21:36  |  Cynic 08/02/07   48.   International community 21:42  |  Ah 08/02/07   49.   #26 ben jobo 21:43  |  us citizen 08/02/07   50.   This Will Last for 5 Minutes 21:48  |  Jane 08/02/07   51.   This is Another Moment of Truth 21:59  |  The Good Spirit 08/02/07   52.   17Jim. Manners 22:01  |  curious 08/02/07   53.   Clickfool # 37 Divvying It Up 22:03  |  Jeff Northridge 08/02/07   54.   Don`t worry 22:08  |  Colin Wright 08/02/07   55.   45Jane, what an optimist-5minutes. Wow! 22:11  |  bat yam 08/02/07   56.   so nothing was done to satisfy donor nations ! 22:17  |  redmike 08/02/07   57.   #20-Theatrix 22:18  |  Cowboy 08/02/07   58.   tearing the Hamas from the arms of the Shiites 22:33  |  Phillies Wright 08/02/07   59.   Bad news for Bush and Olmert 22:37  |  Mark Lincoln 08/02/07   60.   Hamas already broke it - verbally 22:42  |  William 08/02/07   61.   mark -- define `worked` 22:54  |  vik 08/02/07   62.   What they signed? -not to recognize Israel, Bravo! 22:55  |  Vital 08/02/07   63.   Recognizing israel 22:55  |  P. J. Casey 08/02/07   64.   #59: not really about Bush or Olmert 22:56  |  Paul Freedman 08/02/07   65.   PA told to renounce violence by countries with standing military? 23:03  |  Ariel 08/02/07   66.   Hey Haaretz 23:16  |  Cowboy 08/02/07   67.   INSTANT INTERPRETATION 23:19  |  Brant 08/02/07   68.   Israel shunned the PA when Fateh was in the Gov 23:22  |  A Bethlehemite 08/02/07   69.   It`s tiresome how Palestinian Muslim leaders keep hampering peace 23:27  |  Hal 08/02/07   70.   New Plot but same Drama. 23:45  |  Akram Zekaria 08/02/07   71.   #49 U.S. Citizen 23:51  |  * BEN JABO 08/02/07   72.   2 hour Celebration 23:52  |  bimmer 08/02/07   73.   photo of abbas and meshal 23:53  |  vik 08/02/07   74.   #61 William 23:56  |  * BEN JABO 08/02/07   75.   #65 Ariel 23:57  |  * BEN JABO 08/02/07   76.   he had asked",but Hamas did not answer 23:58  |  dr danielito 08/02/07   77.   PEACE should be in the mind of all our leaders. 00:18  |  The Observer. 09/02/07   78.   Israel is the best soap opera on the internet. 00:34  |  Lori Cowen 09/02/07   79.   !!capicce!! Ben Jabotinsky 00:35  |  Jabotinsky Junior 09/02/07   80.   Saudi dog and pony show will bring billions from Europe and save 00:37  |  r 09/02/07   81.   new photo of the 3. 00:51  |  curious 09/02/07   82.   #50, Jane 00:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/02/07   83.   Judge them by what they do and not by what they say 00:57  |  Fritz 09/02/07   84.   59# Mark Lincoln: Inspired by Prophecy. 01:07  |  Akram Zekaria 09/02/07   85.   Israel`s chance to act. 01:08  |  dc 09/02/07   86.   Saudi-brokered scam proves "2002 Saudi Peace Plan" is a fraud 01:12  |  Dr. L. Brnd 09/02/07   87.   Great move, congratulations. It is a day to celebrate 01:20  |  Democratic American 09/02/07   88.   #59 Mark Lincoln. How naive can you get? 01:35  |  Zardos 09/02/07   89.   Why?? 01:44  |  Smearnov 09/02/07   90.   A lovely War turned into a Lovely Peace. 01:49  |  Akram Zekaria 09/02/07   91.   The agreement 02:01  |  Otto Rand 09/02/07   92.   From whom Hamas get order? Iran or Saudi Arabia? 02:04  |  e,m 09/02/07   93.   Zardos - how naive? 02:24  |  Mark Lincoln 09/02/07   94.   Otto Rand 02:27  |  Mark Lincoln 09/02/07   95.   Someone should ask Margaret...... 02:34  |  David James Vickery 09/02/07   96.   All we are saying 02:45  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/02/07   97.   Do not soften our stand on Terrorism 02:49  |  Carl Peters 09/02/07   98.   The real partner for Peace is yet to come. 02:50  |  Akram Zekaria 09/02/07   99.   Bimmer re: If Abbas stands with Hamas 02:51  |  David James Vickery 09/02/07

Read & React Syria and Israel aiming for direct peace talks by next month Responses: 11 Akiva Eldar: Our fixation on Iran leads world to see Israel as the cause of tension Responses: 5 IDF kills three gunmen near Gaza border fence Responses: 9 Meron Benvenisti: Archaeologists' Israel-PA peace plan is naive and simplistic Send response Rosner's Domain Judaism's swing vote: what to do with Jewish singles? What to make of the Journals of Rachel Corrie? (WTR) Poll: When should Israel have elections? Bobby Kennedy and the history of pro-Israel candidates NJDC: McCain's advisor soft on Iran (WTR) More Headlines 10:39 Report: Hezbollah to return abducted IDF soldiers next week 10:18 ANALYSIS / Hezbollah's price to return soldiers is not impossibly high 10:13 IDF kills three gunmen near Gaza border fence 08:40 Syria and Israel aiming for direct peace talks by next month 09:00 Israel awaiting Egypt's answer to remaining issues on Gaza truce 10:34 Officials: Abbas envoys to brief Gaza Fatah men on Hamas talks 10:16 Battle of the attitude / Israeli girls vs. American Jews 07:14 Mayor: Jerusalem is not a settlement, building will go on 09:01 Environmental groups warn of damage from Dead Sea canal 09:41 Lieberman ups the price for joining a future Netanyahu gov't 07:14 Corruption charges abounded even in Ben Gurion's day 00:08 Study: Israelis rank fourth in list of world workaholics 00:08 Rice to Israel: 'Extremely important' to grant exit visas to Gaza Fulbright students Previous Editions Select Day 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun

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