The Fatah-Hamas Accord: Fatah Drops International Community in Favor of National Unity

The document of understandings – signed by the head of the Fatah party in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), 'Azzam Al-Ahmad, and by the deputy head of Hamas's Political Bureau, Moussa Abu Marzouq[1] – has not been released to the media. However, according to statements made by Al-Ahmad and Abu Marzouq in a press conference, it sets out understandings that have been appended to the Egyptian document brokered by the previous Egyptian regime, and speaks of establishing a government of experts and an elections committee; holding elections for the presidency, the PLC, and the Palestinian National Council (PNC) within one year; and reactivating the PLC. [2]

The original Egyptian document, drafted following talks sponsored by the previous Egyptian regime, was signed by Fatah in October 2009, whereas Hamas refused to sign it. [3] Under the sponsorship of the new Egyptian regime, the document was amended with the new understandings, which, according to senior Hamas figure Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, have become "part of the document," thus yielding a new version of the reconciliation agreement that is acceptable to Hamas. Al-Zahhar said that the issues of contention – the elections and their timing and oversight, the government's makeup and tasks, and the procedure for establishing a supreme security council – have been cleared up. [4]

'Azzam Al-Ahmad stressed that the agreement was reached in response to the demand of the Palestinian youth to end the internal schism, and admitted that concessions have been made. [5]

Both Fatah and Hamas presented the accord as unrelated to the peace process with Israel. Al-Zahhar stressed that the disagreement between the two sides regarding the peace process would not affect the functioning of the new government, which would deal with internal matters only. PA President Mahmoud 'Abbas likewise said that negotiations with Israel fell to the authority of the PLO alone, whereas the new government would deal with making preparations for elections and restoring Gaza. [6]

Moussa Abu Marzouq admitted that, during the Hamas-Fatah talks, "there were arguments regarding the political program of the national unity government, and the disagreement pivoted around the terms of the Quartet [for including Hamas in the peace process with Israel].[7] But now the Quartet is gone, along with its terms, so we did not [even] mention it or its terms in our understandings." Al-Zahhar clarified that Hamas's political position was still "no to recognition" of Israel and "no to negotiations" with it. [8]

In an April 27 statement to Al-Jazeera TV, Al-Zahhar explained: "I should make it clear that the political platforms [of Fatah and Hamas] will remain different. The question is how to manage the platforms so that they do not conflict with one another... Our perspective is entirely different from that of Fatah. Fatah believes in negotiations, while we believe that negotiations with the Israeli enemy are in vain. We believe in armed struggle, in addition to responsible governing, as well as making the government's resources available to the resistance."[9]