Rival Palestinian factions signed a power-sharing accord aimed at ending months of bloodshed Thursday, agreeing that Hamas would head a new coalition government that would "respect" past peace agreements with Israel.
In Washington, the State Department issued a cautious statement late Thursday that avoided judgment on reports of a deal, saying officials had not yet seen details of either the composition or the political program for the new government. "In terms of what the outcome of those discussions look like and whether they meet the Quartet principles, I think we'll just have to see," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said earlier.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal headed two days of intense talks in Mecca. The final agreement was announced at a ceremony Thursday night, in which Saudi King Abdullah sat with Abbas and Mashaal. According to the AP, Abbas aide Nabil Amr read a letter from Abbas proclaiming the accord and asking Haniyeh of Hamas to form the new coalition government within five weeks.
Abbas and Mashaal insisted the agreement would bring peace between their factions. The Palestinian president said the deal would "satisfy our people ... and bring us to the shores of peace ... This initiative has been crowned with success." Abbas added at the ceremony: "I hope that this will put an end to shameful actions."
Mashaal vowed 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, ... 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 said.
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett welcomed the "important" agreement, saying in a statement that "We welcome the ongoing efforts to end the violence and promote intra-Palestinian reconciliation."
King Abdullah hailed the "honourable" agreement and congratulated both sides for "having risen to their responsibility ... by stopping the flow of blood and realising national unity."
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the agreement as a "very important step forward" and said he hoped it would curb violence.
In Gaza City, celebratory gunfire was heard for more than an hour after the accord was announced. Residents expressed hope it would mean an end to the violence and the financial boycott, imposed by the West after Hamas came to power last year.
Under the agreement, the crucial post of the interior ministry will go to an independent, because Hamas and Fatah were each reluctant to see the other faction hold the ministry. Hamas must propose the candidate for approval by Abbas. Under the agreement, Hamas will get nine Cabinet posts, including the prime minister position. Fatah gets six, and other factions get four. Besides the interior ministry, independents will get the foreign ministry and planning ministry.
