good news for the palestininians; but nothing would ever satisfy the US or Israel; their way or no way at any cost

Palestinian factions reach deal
2/8/2007

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Rival Palestinian factions signed a power-sharing accord aimed at ending months of bloodshed Thursday, agreeing that the Islamic militant group Hamas would head a new coalition government that would "respect" past peace agreements with Israel.

However, the United States and Israel have demanded the new government explicitly renounce violence, recognize Israel and agree to uphold past peace accords. The vague promise to respect past deals — a compromise reached after Hamas rejected pressure for more binding language — was not seen as going far enough.

U.S. and Israeli acceptance is crucial to the deal's success. Unless they are convinced Hamas has sufficiently moderated, the West is unlikely to lift a crippling financial blockade of the Palestinian government, and it will be difficult to advance the peace process.

"Israel expects a new Palestinian government to respect and accept all three of the international community principles — recognition of Israel, acceptance of all former agreements and renunciation of all terror and violence," Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin told the Associated Press after the accord was announced.

She would not say whether Israel believes the guidelines of the new government fulfill those demands.

In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said "we'll see what any final agreement actually looks like and we'll have to make an evaluation from there" whether it meets international demands.

Also riding on the agreement's success are Palestinian hopes to avert an outright civil war. Hamas and Fatah gunmen have clashed repeatedly in recent months, killing dozens — including 30 who died in four days of fighting that ended with a fragile truce Sunday. The deal could also fall apart as the two sides work out who will fill sensitive posts in the new government — particularly the interior ministry, which controls security forces.

Saudi Arabia — which put its credibility on the line by hosting the high-profile summit in the holy city of Mecca — will likely now face the task of selling the agreement to its ally, the United States.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal headed two days of intense negotiations in a Mecca palace overlooking the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine — a venue Saudi Arabia chose to step up the pressure on the two sides to compromise.

Much of the negotiations centered on a single word. Abbas pressed Hamas to accept the stronger stance of "committing to" past peace accords. But in the end, he was forced to settle with the promise to "respect" them.

The final agreement was announced at a ceremony aired live on Arab television Thursday night, in which Saudi King Abdullah sat with Abbas on his right and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on his left.

Abbas aide Nabil Amr read a letter from Abbas proclaiming the accord and asking Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to form the new coalition government within five weeks, divvying up Cabinet posts between the factions according to a formula agreed on in the Mecca talks.

The letter said the new government would "respect" past peace deals signed with Israel by the Palestine Liberation Organization, dominated by Fatah.

Still, Abbas and Mashaal insisted the agreement would bring peace between their factions and lavished praised on the Saudi monarch for his help — even comparing him to the Prophet Muhammad in his ability to bring reconciliation.

Abbas said the deal would "satisfy our people ... and bring us to the shores of peace ... This initiative has been crowned with success."

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.

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 following January 2006 elections.

"We've been holding our breath. God willing, this is a permanent agreement, not a temporary truce. We hope this will lead to lifting the siege," said Mahmoud Qassam, a fish seller watching the ceremony at his home in Gaza City's Shaati refugee camp, meters (yards) from Haniyeh's home.

A first test of international acceptance of the deal could come on Feb. 19, when Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Abbas and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are due to meet in Jerusalem for talks intended to revive peace negotiations.

If the West does not back the new government and refuses to lift the boycott, it could put a strain on the fragile peace between Hamas and Fatah.

The deal could also fall apart over the formation of the government — particularly over the issue of who will fill the vital post of interior minister, which would control the security forces. Under the agreement, the post will go to an independent, since Hamas and Fatah were each reluctant to see the other faction hold the ministry.

Hamas must propose the candidate for approval by Abbas, and it did not appear that the two sides have settled on a name.

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.

"There are many details that still need to be worked out after this agreement, including the interior minister and marketing the agreement to the international community," said Abdel-Rahman Zaydan, a member of the Hamas delegation. "The Saudis will be part of this effort."

Abbas had asked Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal to sound out the Americans on whether "respect the accords" is acceptable, a Fatah delegate said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the diplomacy.

To boost the new government, the kingdom promised $1 billion in aid to the Palestinians, Ahmed Youssef, a political adviser to Hanyieh, said in Gaza.