The ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Fatah
movement agreed on Monday to end violence between supporters of the
two groups and settle their differences through dialogue.
Officials from the two groups signed an agreement named the
"Document of Honor and National Oath" in the West Bank city of
Ramallah, calling for followers to boost social security and avoid
clashes.
Loyalists to the once-dominant Fatah and militants of Hamas have
confronted against each other over the dispute on the control of
the security forces. Over a dozen people have been killed in the
violence during the past month.
Hamas took the reins of the Palestinian government in late March
after defeating Fatah in the January legislative elections.
But most of the regular security forces are Fatah supporters and
Abbas has appointed a close ally to head the security forces and
reinforced his elite troops in the Gaza Strip.
Tensions have mounted since President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also
Fatah's chairman, issued a presidential decree to call for a
referendum on a proposal seeking a Palestinian state alongside
Israel.
Hamas' charter formally calls for Israel's destruct. The group
has so far refused to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right
to exist and accept previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.
Fatah, once long dominant on the Palestinian political arena,
has supported a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict and espoused negotiations with the Jewish state.
(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2006)
