RAMALLAH: Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah have given their initial acceptance yesterday of an Egyptian plan to reconcile both the factions amid a looming constitutional crisis.
“We will agree to the draft of the agreement and will not reject it,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said, but he added that the plan would require some “modification” before it could be implemented.
“The draft contains positive elements, but also has some points that need modification and some points that need clarification from the Egyptian leadership.”
Meanwhile, a senior Fatah official yesterday said that his movement has positively accepted the Egyptian plan.
Nabil Sha’ath, member of Fatah’s Central Committee and its team to the Cairo talks, told the official Palestinian news agency WAFA that “the draft of the plan, presented to the factions, is very positive.” Sha’ath added that Egypt considers the draft of the plan as a work paper for the comprehensive dialogue.
Representatives from both sides have been invited to meet in Cairo on Nov. 9 to discuss the Egyptian plan, which is aimed at restoring unity amid a looming constitutional crisis that threatens to deepen the internal rift.
Hamas has said that Abbas — who was elected in January 2005 — will cease to be president when his constitutionally mandated four-year term ends in Jan. and that a new presidential election will have to be held. Abbas loyalists, citing a separate clause in the constitution, say that presidential and parliamentary elections must be held at the same time, which would extend his term to 2010.
The Egyptian plan includes Abbas’ proposal for forming a “national consensus government” to lift the international blockade of Gaza and prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections.
— With input from agencies
