Reconciliation committee agrees work plan
Published 30 January 2012 18:15
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=456636

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A committee tasked with implementing the national
reconciliation deal set up governorate subcommittees and developed an annual
work plan after meeting on Monday.

The "public freedoms committee" is tasked with hammering out a number of
tenets of the unity deal signed in May last year, including political
prisoners, passports, closure of institutions, travel bans and freedom of
political expression.

Committee members said in a press conference after the meeting that it had
distributed its tasks among members.

Media secretary of the committee Abdul Aziz Qadih said the committee will
continue its work to unite all factions and seek positive resolution of all
pending issues holding up reconciliation.

The committee said Israel's detention of four Palestinian MPs and a former
minister last week aimed to hinder the reconciliation deal, and condemned
Israeli interference in the process.

In 2007, fighting between Hamas and Fatah reached near civil war and led to
the division of the West Bank and Gaza under separate governments.

The parties agreed in May to form a unity government to pave the way to
elections within a year, but the administration has yet to be formed.

Fatah leader Abbas met with Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal in Cairo in November
to try and revive the stalled process of reconciliation.

The party leaders pledged their commitment to unity and several committees
were formed to implement the reconciliation agreement, but the parties
continue to spar over key tenets of the deal.