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| Palestinian groups Fatah, Hamas announce accord that could threaten Mideast peace talks | Palestinian groups Fatah, Hamas announce accord that could threaten Mideast peace talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| JERUSALEM — Rival Palestinian political factions Fatah and Hamas on Wednesday announced a reconciliation deal that could lead to the formation of a unified government, raising significant new obstacles to further negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. | |
| Fatah and Hamas have announced similar accords previously, only to see them fall apart, but the latest announcement drew swift condemnation from officials in Israel, which considers Hamas a terrorist organization. The Obama administration said the tentative deal — which could lead to a unity government by the end of May — was disappointing. | |
| “This could seriously complicate our efforts — not just our efforts, but the efforts between the parties more importantly to extend the negotiations,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. | |
| Psaki called the timing of the announcement troubling. It came days before the expiration of Secretary of State John F. Kerry’s deadline for an outline of peace deal and could be a spoiler for Israeli and Palestinian discussions this week about ways to keep the talks going. | |
| “The ball is in the Palestinian court” to explain how the proposed unity government would work and what effect it would have on talks with Israel, Psaki said. | |
| At a news conference in the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad, a representative of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the two sides had fulfilled a “national responsibility” to reach an agreement. | At a news conference in the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad, a representative of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the two sides had fulfilled a “national responsibility” to reach an agreement. |
| The accord gives Abbas five weeks to form a unity government based on conditions laid out in previous agreements and to set in motion plans for parliamentary and presidential elections. | The accord gives Abbas five weeks to form a unity government based on conditions laid out in previous agreements and to set in motion plans for parliamentary and presidential elections. |
| Fatah, which is the dominant party in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and rules the Palestinian territory in the West Bank, broke ties with Islamic militant movement Hamas after it seized control of Gaza in 2007. | Fatah, which is the dominant party in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and rules the Palestinian territory in the West Bank, broke ties with Islamic militant movement Hamas after it seized control of Gaza in 2007. |
| Both the United States and Israel have branded Hamas a terrorist organization and have no direct relations with the group. Meanwhile, Israel has been involved in peace negotiations with the PLO for the past nine months under a U.S.-led initiative. | Both the United States and Israel have branded Hamas a terrorist organization and have no direct relations with the group. Meanwhile, Israel has been involved in peace negotiations with the PLO for the past nine months under a U.S.-led initiative. |
| In a statement to the media following the announcement of the Palestinians’ accord, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Abbas should choose between reaching peace with Israel or making an agreement with Hamas, “a murderous terror organization that calls for the destruction of Israel and is labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. | In a statement to the media following the announcement of the Palestinians’ accord, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Abbas should choose between reaching peace with Israel or making an agreement with Hamas, “a murderous terror organization that calls for the destruction of Israel and is labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. |
| “This evening, as peace talks were about to take place, Abbas chose Hamas and not peace,” read a statement released by Netanyahu’s office. “Whoever chooses Hamas does not want peace.” | “This evening, as peace talks were about to take place, Abbas chose Hamas and not peace,” read a statement released by Netanyahu’s office. “Whoever chooses Hamas does not want peace.” |
| Israel also canceled a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators scheduled to take place Wednesday evening. | Israel also canceled a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators scheduled to take place Wednesday evening. |
| “This kind of agreement will definitely affect the talks negatively,” said Kobi Michael, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel. “Having a unity deal will make life much harder for [Palestinian President Mahmoud] Abbas. He will now not be in a position to make meaningful concessions to Israel.” | “This kind of agreement will definitely affect the talks negatively,” said Kobi Michael, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel. “Having a unity deal will make life much harder for [Palestinian President Mahmoud] Abbas. He will now not be in a position to make meaningful concessions to Israel.” |
| Shimrit Meir, founding editor of Arabic media outlet “Al Masdar” (The Source), said that despite the announcement of an agreement between Fatah and Hamas, the real test would be if Abbas would visit Gaza in the coming weeks. | Shimrit Meir, founding editor of Arabic media outlet “Al Masdar” (The Source), said that despite the announcement of an agreement between Fatah and Hamas, the real test would be if Abbas would visit Gaza in the coming weeks. |
| “This is not the first ‘breakthrough’ between the two sides since 2007; we have been in this situation before,” she said, however, adding that there were some indications that this agreement could hold. | “This is not the first ‘breakthrough’ between the two sides since 2007; we have been in this situation before,” she said, however, adding that there were some indications that this agreement could hold. |
| This time, she said, both sides are in difficult positions. Both have lost their popularity on the Palestinian street, Hamas has lost its support from Egypt and Iran, and Abbas is facing difficult challenges in reaching a peace agreement with the Israelis. | This time, she said, both sides are in difficult positions. Both have lost their popularity on the Palestinian street, Hamas has lost its support from Egypt and Iran, and Abbas is facing difficult challenges in reaching a peace agreement with the Israelis. |
| “Hamas wants to implement this agreement because they are very weak and need it now more than any time in the past,” said Meir. Abbas, she said, is indicating that he has made a choice to go with Hamas rather than trying to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process with Israel. | “Hamas wants to implement this agreement because they are very weak and need it now more than any time in the past,” said Meir. Abbas, she said, is indicating that he has made a choice to go with Hamas rather than trying to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process with Israel. |
| “Abbas wants to have as many options as possible,” said Meir. “He wants to present these to the international community, whether it’s unilateralism, a popular uprising or reconciliation with Hamas and a unity government.” | “Abbas wants to have as many options as possible,” said Meir. “He wants to present these to the international community, whether it’s unilateralism, a popular uprising or reconciliation with Hamas and a unity government.” |
| Meanwhile, as the new conference in Gaza City was taking place, the Israeli military said that its jets had targeted sites in the seaside enclave. Palestinian media reported that seven people were injured. | Meanwhile, as the new conference in Gaza City was taking place, the Israeli military said that its jets had targeted sites in the seaside enclave. Palestinian media reported that seven people were injured. |
| Gearan contributed from Washington. Islam Abdul-Karim in Gaza contributed to this report. |