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A reconciliation agreement between rival Palestinian parties Fatah and Hamas has been delayed, following a bitter dispute over the Palestinian Authority's decision not to back a UN-sponsored war crimes report.
The deal was to be signed on October 25, clearing the way for Hamas and Gaza to cooperate in rebuilding war-damaged Gaza by preparing for Palestinian elections in the first half of 2010.
The two sides have been divided since Hamas, which commanded a majority in parliament, seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Following the takeover, there have been rival Palestinian governments in Gaza and the West Bank.
But with mediation from Egypt, the parties have been trying to broker a deal to reconcile and establish a power-sharing agreement.
But Hamas said on its website on Sunday that it was postponing the agreement because of a much-criticized decision by the Palestinian Authority (PA), led by President Mahmoud Abbas, to delay action on a UN report condemning Israel's winter assault of Gaza.
Report issue
The report, drawn up by a team of experts led by Richard Goldstone, a former South African judge, accuses Israel of using disproportionate force and failing to protect civilians during its bombardment of Gaza.
It recommended that the UN Security Council require both sides to carry out credible investigations into abuses during the conflict – in which more than 1,400 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilian women and children, were killed.
Israel has rejected the report's war crimes allegations and the US called the report deeply flawed.
But many Palestinians, and not just Hamas party members, were outraged after Abbas withdrew Palestinian support for having the UN Human Rights Council forward the report to the 192-nation General Assembly for possible action.
Seven Palestinian groups joined Hamas leaders based in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday in issuing a statement of support for the postponement of the Palestinian reconciliation deal.
They called Abbas's decision to freeze action on the UN report a "crime and scandal".
The groups emphasized the importance of reconciliation but said Abbas's actions should not go unpunished.
Public dispute
In a televised speech from the conference in Damascus, Khaled Meshal, the Hamas leader, spelled out his party's position. "When Goldstone investigated the criminal aggression by Israel against Gaza, this was an opportunity to indict Israel," he said.
"But this group of Palestinian leaders [Fatah leadership] withdrew the report. This is the Goldstone scandal. A courageous leadership is a leadership that is frank with its people.
"Those who are accumulating political mistakes are today continuing their lies. This is not a leadership that deserves to be entrusted with the leadership of the Palestinians.
PHOTO CAPTION
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal (R) shakes hands with senior Fatah leader Saleem Zanoun during the funeral of Meshaal's father in Amman August 29, 2009.
Al-Jazeera
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