Brasília – The leaders of the Palestinian factions Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, have announced a decision of “immediately” putting to work reconciliation agreement signed in May 2011. The initiative was agreed on during meetings held this Wednesday (9th) in Cairo, Egypt, and mediated by president Mohamed Morsi.
The reconciliation agreement sets forth that the Fatah and Hamas commit to establishing a unified government, presided by Abbas and comprised of independent entities which will hold presidential and legislative elections.
In a press statement, the Egyptian government informed that Abbas and Meshaal have decided that the development committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) will define the schedule for implementing the agreement in the first week of February. Morsi added that both have shown “a spirit of positivity and great responsibility.”
Abbas said he and Meshaal agree with the solution of establishing the two states – of Palestine and Israel – and that the State of Palestine will be based on pre-1967 (Six-Day War) borders. Those include the West Bank and East Jerusalem areas.
The Fatah-Hamas dispute became worse in June 2007, when the latter took control of the Gaza Strip and drove Abbas’ allies away from the region. The action led to the rise of two Palestinian governments – the Hamas’ in Gaza, and Abbas’ Palestinian Authority’s in the West Bank.
*With information from Agência Lusa. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
