Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party has cleared the way for talks on a unity government with Hamas. "The panel gave the president full authorisation to forge a national unity government with Hamas and other Palestinian factions," member Hani Hassan told reporters after a meeting of Fatah's 16-member central committee in Amman. Abbas hopes a coalition will force Hamas to moderate its anti-Israel stance and help open the way for the renewal of broader peace talks.
Fatah has refused to join Hamas in a national unity government, insisting that they first recognize Israel's right to exist and abide by the agreements already concluded by the PLO with Israel. When Hamas emerged victorious in January's PLC elections, the International Quartet stipulated that monetary assistance and diplomatic ties would be conditional upon Hamas agreeing to three terms: recognition of Israel's right to exist; cessation of terrorist activity; and acknowledgement of previous peace agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority.
"We want a national unity government, which is important to mobilize efforts," Hassan said. "The important thing is that the brothers in Hamas realize we want a national unity government which would be accepted by the international community as well. We want a government which could lift the political and economic blockade, and we want the world to stand by us."
In a statement, Fatah's Central Committee pledged to "continue struggle until the achievement of just peace based on international legitimacy, ending the occupation and the setting up of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
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