Analyst: Hamas, Fatah to Form National Unity Gov't in Weeks

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior analyst underlined the significance of the national unity deal signed by the different Palestinian groups earlier this month, and underlined that formation of a Palestinian government is highly important for the implementation of the agreement.
"Implementing the Palestinian national reconciliation deal needs a road map, whose top priority would be the formation of a national unity government, an end to the Gaza siege, reconstruction of Palestine's infrastructure and specifying a date for parliamentary elections and the Palestinian Authority presidential election," Head of the Center for Near-East Regional Research Majid Ghazan told FNA.

"I believe that Palestinian groups as well as Egypt are resolved to form such a government as Fatah and Hamas have already started talks about the issue in Cairo," the analyst noted.

"They think that the two sides will agree on the formation of the Palestinian government by the next few weeks," Ghazan noted.

Earlier this month, thirteen Palestinian groups including, Fatah and Hamas, signed a landmark unity deal ending their long-running division.

Prior to the agreement, the Islamic movement Hamas was at loggerheads with Fatah, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, since Hamas won the parliamentary elections in January of 2006. After winning the elections, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip ending months of bloody conflict with Fatah allied security forces. Egypt and other Arab countries' attempts of reaching a reconciliation deal between the two largest Palestinian factions had earlier failed.

According to internal sources, the agreement includes formation of a caretaker government until elections take place in both the West Bank and Gaza.