Controversy Over Hamas-Fatah Agreement

After a long weekend of discussions and crises between delegations from Hamas and Fatah, the two parties have signed the 'Sana Announcement, calling to resume their dialogue. Only few hours passed, however, before it was revealed that the agreement might be void of substance, due to internal conflicts within Fatah itself.

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The 'Sana Announcement called to resume dialogue on the basis of the Yemeni initiative, according to which the situation should return to the Gaza of last June, before Hamas took over the Gaza Strip.

Immediately after the announcement, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas' office issued a statement that effectively annulled the 'Sana declaration.

"While the Palestinian leadership expresses its appreciation for these efforts, we hereby state that any future resumption of dialogue must aspire to implement the Yemeni initiative, including all its articles. The future dialogue must not treat this initiative as a mere framework for discussions, as this will not achieve any results. The articles of the Yemeni initiative are clear and we want them to be implemented, not [only] discussed," read the statement.

Sources in ‘Abbas' office told the local Palestinian media that Fatah's representative to the talks, 'Azzam Al-Ahmad, did not consult with 'Abbas over the final formula of the 'Sana Announcement, and that therefore he was unauthorized to sign it.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Al-Ahmad said he was in close contact with 'Abbas throughout the talks.

The principles of the 'Sana statement call for returning control of the Gaza Strip to Fatah, forming a unity government that will function until early elections for the presidency and parliament are held and reforming the Palestinian security forces in a way that would make them independent of factional affiliation.

'Abbas stressed he would not agree to resuming negotiations with Hamas unless these preconditions were met. Hamas officials told The Media Line this was unacceptable.

"We have said from the beginning… that we do not mind reversing the situation, but that means everything… it's a package deal, [including] a unity government headed by Isma'il Haniyya," Dr. Ahmad Yousuf, a close adviser to Isma'il Haniyya, told The Media Line.

Hamas, for its part, was satisfied with the 'Sana Announcement.

Mousa Abu Marzouq, who headed Hamas' delegation, said the dialogue would resume after the Damascus conference of the Arab League on March 29. He said Yemeni President 'Ali 'Abdallah 'Salih would carry the initiative to the Arab summit for endorsement.