2014 Fatah–Hamas Agreements

The 2014 Fatah–Hamas Agreements were two successive reconciliation agreements between Fatah and Hamas, concluded in 2014. The Gaza Agreement was signed in Gaza City on 23 April 2014 by Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of the Hamas administration in Gaza, and a senior Palestine Liberation Organisation delegation dispatched by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Its main purpose was reconciliation between the parties and the formation of a Palestinian Unity Government within five weeks, to be followed by general elections within six months.[1][2] The Unity Government was formed on 2 June 2014.

On 25 September 2014, almost 4 months after the formation of the Palestinian Unity Government, the parties concluded a second agreement, the Cairo Agreement, in Cairo, between Haniyeh and President Abbas, specifying the tasks and responsibilities of the Unity Government. The Government was to assume responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, work on re-activation of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and implement the 2006 National Conciliation Document and the National Reconciliation Document of 5 April 2011.[3]

Gaza Agreement, April 2014

The Gaza Agreement was signed in Gaza City on 23 April 2014 by Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of the Hamas administration in Gaza, and a senior PLO delegation dispatched by Palestinian President Abbas. Its main purposes were reconciliation between the parties and the formation of a national unity government within five weeks, to be followed by general elections in December.[1][2]

Reactions

Mustafa Barghouti, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, who was involved in the negotiation, described the deal as an "end to the division between the Palestinian people."[4]

Israel reacted angrily to the Fatah–Hamas Gaza Agreement of 23 April 2014.[5] Israel halted peace talks with the Palestinians, saying it "will not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for Israel's destruction", and threatened sanctions against the Palestinian Authority,[6][7] including a previously announced Israeli plan to unilaterally deduct Palestinian debts to Israeli companies from the tax revenue Israel collects for the PA.[8][9] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Abbas of sabotaging peace efforts. He said that Abbas cannot have peace with both Hamas and Israel and has to choose.[1][2] Abbas said the deal did not contradict their commitment to peace with Israel on the basis of a two-state solution[10] and assured reporters that any unity government would recognize Israel, be non-violent, and bound to previous PLO agreements.[11] Shortly after, Israel began implementing economic sanctions against Palestinians and canceled plans to build housing for Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank.[12] Abbas also threatened to dissolve the PA, leaving Israel fully responsible for both the West Bank and Gaza,[13] a threat that the PA has not put into effect.

The United States said it was troubled by the announcement, which "could seriously complicate" negotiations to extend peace negotiations and could implications, inter alia regarding aid.[1]

The European Union welcomed the agreement, but said the priority remains peace talks with Israel.[7]

Formation of Palestinian Unity Government

A Palestinian Unity Government was formed on 2 June 2014.[14]

West Bank plot

During the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, that broke out on 8 July, the Shin Bet revealed an alleged plot by Hamas to depose Fatah rule in the West Bank. This was to be achieved by deploying Hamas cells around the West Bank to incite a third intifada and overwhelm Palestinian Authority forces. More than 90 people were arrested. President Abbas said the plot was "a grave threat to the unity of the Palestinian people and its future."[15]

Cairo Agreement, September 2014

On 25 September 2014, almost 4 months after the formation of the Unity Government, Haniyeh and Abbas concluded the Cairo Agreement. The Unity Government was to assume responsibilities in the Gaza Strip and the PA was to take control of the border crossings. Furthermore, it would work on lifting the siege and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, convene a donor conference, re-activation of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and implement the 2006 National Conciliation Document and the National Reconciliation Document of 5 April 2011.[3]

The Unity Government convened on 9 October 2014 in Gaza, to discuss the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.[16] Hamas was discontented with the government over the failure of the reconstruction process in Gaza, the ongoing closure of the crossings and the failure to settle the issue of the payment of employee salaries, and threatened a vote of no confidence in the PNC in November 2014.[17]

Dissolution of government

President Abbas dissolved the Unity Government on 17 June 2015 saying the government was unable to operate in the Gaza Strip. The general elections stipulated to take place by December 2014 did not eventuate.

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See also

References
  1. Fatah and Hamas agree landmark pact after seven-year rift. Peter Beaumont and Paul Lewis, The Guardian, 24 April 2014
  2. The rival Palestinian leaderships of Fatah and Hamas made a fresh attempt ... Archived 2014-04-24 at the Wayback Machine. France 24/AP, 23 April 2014
  3. Text of Fatah-Hamas agreement. Khaled Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post, 25 September 2014
  4. "Hamas, Fatah announce talks to form Palestinian unity government". CNN. 24 April 2014.
  5. "Hamas and Fatah unveil Palestinian reconciliation deal". BBC. 23 April 2014.
  6. Sanctions and suspended talks - Israel responds to Palestinian reconciliation Ynet News 24 April 2014
  7. Israel suspends peace talks with Palestinians after Fatah-Hamas deal. The Guardian, 24 April 2014
  8. Israel suspends peace talks with Palestinians. Batsheva Sobelman, Los Angeles Times, 24 April 2014
  9. Venezuela signs deal to provide Palestinian Authority with oil. RT, 19 May, 2014.
    "The Israelis are also withholding US$116 million of Palestinian tax revenue. The punitive measures were in response to the reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian Fatah party, which rules the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, the militant group which controls Gaza, according to Haaretz."
  10. "Hamas and Fatah unveil Palestinian reconciliation deal". 23 April 2014.
  11. "PLO, Hamas unity constitute reuniting West Bank and Gaza: Ban Ki-moon". 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  12. Israel begins implementing economic sanctions against Palestinians Ynet News 29 April 2014
  13. New York Times, 22 April 2014,Abbas Renews Threat to Dissolve Palestinian Authority if Peace Talks Fail
  14. Sanctions and suspended talks – Israel responds to Palestinian reconciliation – Retrieved 4 September 2014
  15. Ginsburg, Mitch (18 August 2014). "Israel says it foiled Hamas plan for massive attacks on Israel, coup against PA". The Times of Israel.
  16. Palestinian PM convenes first unity government meeting in Gaza. Reuters, 9 October 2014
  17. Hamas threatens vote of no confidence in Abbas. Al-Monitor, 21 November 2014.
    "Moreover, it is illegal as it has yet to get the vote of confidence of the parliament, knowing that it was formed five months ago"
    "A senior official in the office of Abbas told...Hamas' expected step to withdraw the confidence from the government is illegal, as it is an interim one and did not originally get the parliament's vote of confidence to have it withdrawn. Moreover, when Hamas signed the reconciliation agreement and accepted the government formation, it knew full well that there was no agreement to put this government to vote."
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