Cairo summit confirms Palestinian unity deal

Morning Star Online Febr 23 2012 by Tom Mellen

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas leadership approved a national unity deal in Cairo on Wednesday.

Izzat al-Rishq, an aide to Hamas secretary-general Khaled Mashaal, said the Islamist resistance movement’s political bureau signed the deal after more than 12 hours of talks over two days.

Since Hamas won a resounding victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 the Palestinian Authority has governed in the West Bank while a Hamas administration has ruled Gaza.

An agreement signed in Doha, Qatar, between Mr Mashaal and Mr Abbas on February 6 paved the way for Mr Abbas to head an interim unity government ahead of general elections across the Palestinian territories.

Mr Rishq said the Cairo meeting “decided to fully implement the reconciliation agreement and the Doha declaration.

“It puts an end to the debate and discussions over Hamas’s position concerning the Doha agreement and puts an end to what seemed to be disagreement within Hamas.”

The Hamas politburo called for “thorough and honest implementation of the reconciliation agreements of Cairo and Doha to end the division and unify the national front.”

Mr Abbas and Mr Meshaal took part in two rounds of meetings with the leadership of all Palestinian factions today.

They are scheduled to continue the talks tomorrow.

Palestine Liberation Organisation secretary-general Wasil Abu Yousif said the meetings were focusing on how to restructure the organisation to renew its role as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

foreigneditor@peoples-press.com

Cairo summit confirms Palestinian unity deal – Morning Star Online

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