Fatah and Hamas leaders shake on an accord for Palestinian elections

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has taken a major step toward reconciliation with the Islamic militant group Hamas, agreeing to head an interim unity government that would prepare for elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The move yesterday, following the failure of exploratory Israeli-Palestinian talks aimed at reviving stalled peace negotiations, was condemned by Israel, which says that Hamas cannot be part of any peace efforts.

The accord signed by Fatah’s Mr Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Doha, Qatar, is supposed to pave the way for Palestinian presidential and parliamentary election possibly later this year, and to rebuild the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip following a 2008-2009 Israeli offensive against Hamas.

It was not known whether the deal would be implemented. No timetable was set.

A reconciliation pact Fatah and Hamas struck in May 2011 has had little substantive result but both sides said they were serious about carrying out the new accord.

Mr Abbas’ Palestinian Authority supports a negotiated peace with Israel that would give Palestinians an independent state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Gaza, co-existing with the Jewish state. However, Mr Meshaal’s Hamas is officially sworn to the destruction of Israel but is open to an indefinite ceasefire.

Their conflicting positions have not been resolved despite the new deal, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time in pointing out.

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation which strives to destroy Israel and relies on support from Iran,” he said. “I have said many times that the Palestinian Authority must choose between an alliance with Hamas and peace with Israel. Hamas and peace don’t go together.”

Palestinian political analyst Hani al Masri said: “They [Fatah and Hamas] are avoiding the main issue. They are waiting to see what the international community’s reaction will be. This leaves all the important issues unresolved.”

A diplomat in the region, who declined to named, said Hamas leaders in Gaza appeared to have been surprised by the Doha announcement and were likely to raise questions with Mr Meshaal, who has until recently lived in exile in Damascus.

“The agreement in Doha did not have a normal birth, I mean it did not come in complete co-ordination within Hamas,” the diplomat said.

“The whole thing came as a surprise in Gaza. We have to watch whether it will work.”

Mr Meshaal took Hamas by surprise in December by announcing he would not seek to extend his leadership when an internal election is held next month. Analysts said his “resignation” was more likely to be a back-me-or-sack-me ploy to reassert his control in order to soften Hamas policies in line with Mr Abbas.

Yesterday’s deal provided for a government of independent technocrats to oversee preparations for elections later this year. A vote had been mooted in May but the Palestinian election commission says more time will be needed.

Mr Abbas and Mr Meshaal, who signed the deal billed as the “Doha declaration” in the presence of Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, pledged to ensure quick implementation.

“We are serious, both Fatah and Hamas, in healing the wounds and ending the chapter of division and reinforcing and accomplishing reconciliation,” Mr Meshaal said.