Rival Palestinian factions began crucial talks in the holy city
of Mecca Wednesday, determined to attain a power-sharing agreement
designed to avert civil war, a step without which there is little
hope of resuming the peace process with Israel.
"It was agreed to form four committees in order to ease the
process of reaching an agreement," said Azzam al-Ahmad, Fatah bloc
chief in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), who is
participating in the dialogue.
The committees will each tackle a key area, namely forming a
national unity government, reinforcing political partnership,
deepening reconciliation and ending tension as well as
re-establishing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
The decision was made in a closed-door session on Wednesday
evening, revealed al-Ahmad, adding that, "A third and final session
would be held on Wednesday night, and the four committees would
start working separately. We hope that within the coming few hours
we would reach an agreement."
However, al-Ahmad disclosed no further details on the contents
of the closed-door meeting, calling the timing "premature to talk
about the details."
President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail Haneya, exiled
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, and senior leaders from both
movements arrived on Tuesday in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for a national
dialogue at the invitation of Saudi King Abdullah.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2007)
