Al-Ahmad: Fatah, Hamas, Egypt to form committee
Published yesterday (updated) 21/01/2013 21:51
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=558119

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Hamas and Fatah will form a tripartite committee with
Egypt to implement national reconciliation, a Fatah leader said Monday.

Azzam al-Ahmad told Voice of Palestine radio that he will represent Fatah in
the committee and Musa Abu Marzouq will represent Hamas.

An Egyptian delegation will visit the West Bank and Gaza to follow up on
reconciliation, al-Ahmad said, adding that no date had been set for the
trip.

The visit may be considered after a PLO leadership meeting on Feb. 9, the
Fatah leader said, stressing that Egypt was closely monitoring the
application of agreements between his party and Hamas.

Fatah and Hamas leaders have held unity talks in Cairo in January, agreeing
to implement a reconciliation agreement signed in the Egyptian capital in
May 2011.

Under the Egypt-brokered deal, Hamas and Fatah agreed to form a unity
government of technocrats and independents to oversee national elections,
which have been on hold since the parties split into separate governments in
2007.

Al-Ahmad rejected Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya's assertion that the unity
government must be approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council.

The unity government must take an oath in front of President Mahmoud Abbas,
and so will not need approval from the PLC, al-Ahmad said.

One month after the new government's formation, the PLC will have the right
to approve or reject it, he added.

It will govern for six months, during which time elections will be held,
al-Ahmad said.