THE Egyptian security delegation’s efforts succeeded last Friday night in reaching a mutual agreement between Fatah and Hamas to contain the tensions and differences between the two movements, reported the Ma’an pro-Hamas news agency.
In a meeting that was held tonight under the auspices of the high-ranking Egyptian security delegation, which included Major General Ra’fat Shihadah and Major General Muhammad Ibrahim, an agreement was reached on a memorandum of understanding.
The agreement consists of a number of principles whose purpose is to abate and end the internal tensions.
Well-informed sources in Gaza City noted that the memorandum includes ten principles, which are to be implemented immediately.
1. To respect the national symbols (leaders).
2. To immediately cease all public acts and activities that are either illegal or are incompatible with norms.
3. To consider any assault on public and private property forbidden and a crime.
4. To cease all media incitement.
5. To reaffirm the principle of the rule of law.
6. To form a joint office that will regulate, restrain, and develop relations between the two movements.
7. To form a national media committee that will supervise everything that the two parties publish.
8. To withdraw any political backing from anyone who breaks the law.
9. To request the security services not to intervene in internal differences, and that they commit to their tasks in accordance with the law.
10. To resort to dialogue as a means to resolve all differences between the two parties.
The parties agreed to implement all the agreements that had been reached in the past between the two movements, activate them, and commit to them.
In addition, Fatah and Hamas have agreed to form a joint committee that will follow all issues pertaining to public security and media. This includes ending all sorts of media incitement, slander, and confrontations.
The meeting further resulted in an agreement, according to which both parties will issue immediate orders to all their cadres to stop all public violations and abide by the law.
The sources noted that the meeting was held in an extremely positive atmosphere, under a prevailing spirit of unity, solidarity, mutual agreement, and a strong determination to end all sources of tension in order to serve security and stability in the Palestinian street.
The Wafa pro-Fatah news agency reported that ‘Meeting under the auspices of the Egyptian security delegation, Fatah and Hamas movements reached an agreement late at night to end all verbal and physical violence and form a joint committee to resolve any differences that may come up between the two sides.
‘In a statement to the media, Mr Mahir al-Miqdad, Fatah spokesman in the Gaza Strip, affirmed that the Palestinian situation has reached a tragic state of tension, which required that Fatah and Hamas convene under Egyptian mediation.
‘He noted that the meeting tackled one main issue, which is the domestic situation, adding that political and other detailed issues were not addressed.
‘Al-Miqdad said that the two parties agreed on principle issues, the most important of which is the need to stop all forms of violence and abide by the rule of law when dealing with any issue.
‘Al-Miqdad added that Fatah and Hamas will issue a joint statement to the press later on, which will detail what took place in the meeting.
‘He said the agreement is considered a final one, noting that a number of mechanisms are needed in order to ensure and supervise its utmost implementation on the ground.
‘Al-Miqdad pointed out that this will take place throughout the formation of a joint Fatah-Hamas committee.
‘Al-Miqdad expressed his hope that the agreement will succeed so that our people will be spared from tragedies, bloodshed and internal problems and clashes that divert us from the main issue, which is the Palestinian confrontation with the Israeli occupation and the blockade.
‘The Fatah spokesman further expressed hope that the agreement would be a positive step towards more positive relations, saying that if the agreement will be carried out in a responsible manner, it will encourage tackling other issues.
‘Al-Miqdad added that the atmosphere at the meeting was positive and good, and that all sides acted responsibly, noting that no Palestinian official or national figure wanted the situation to deteriorate to such a tragic low.
‘He praised the Egyptian efforts, noting that Egypt played a positive, constructive and active role, which was important in helping reach the agreement.’
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya rejected on Friday the call of President Abbas to run early elections, considering that such a step ‘aims at driving Hamas out of power’.
The PM said during the last Friday 20 October ceremony in the holy month of Ramadan in Al-Nusayrat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip that a technocrats’ government will encounter many difficulties, most importantly is that it ‘would not enjoy the support of the political powers dominating the Palestinian Legislative Council, which means it could be toppled by any political bloc within the parliament’.
He considered forming a temporary government as derogation to the Palestinian cause and undermines the democratic choice of Palestinian people.
Hamas will utilise the majority in the parliament that it enjoys to obstruct forming any temporary government, Haniya warned, ‘pointing out that any upcoming government has to be approved by the parliament, the thing that cannot happen without Hamas approval’.
Responding to the statement of President Abbas last week when he said that he was prepared to make critical decision on the fate of the Hamas-led government, the prime minister stressed that President Abbas ‘does not have the authority to disband the parliament’.
