Rival Palestinian factions reach deal to cool tensions

The Hamas-led Palestinian government has agreed to withdraw its private militia from public areas of Gaza in an agreement with the rival Fatah movement aimed at halting weeks of bloody infighting.

The deal, mediated by Egyptian diplomats, came amid a deeper disagreement over an ultimatum by president Mahmoud Abbas to recognise Israel or face a referendum on the idea.

Abbas, who heads Fatah, has given the Islamic group until the weekend to respond.

In an unrelated incident, a Palestinian policeman and two militants were killed overnight by Israeli forces manning the Gaza-Israel border fence, Palestinian security and hospital officials said.

A third militant wounded in the shooting died in hospital this morning. Four Palestinians were wounded, including a seven-year-old child.

Israel said soldiers, a tank and helicopters fired at three people crawling toward the fence after dark and hit two of them. The army had no word on other injuries.

The black-clad Hamas militia has been at the centre of a brewing power struggle. Hamas deployed the 3,000-member force last month throughout Gaza, sparking violence that has claimed 16 lives.

“They are going to be in places away from the public. They are not going to be visible to people,” said government spokesman Ghazi Hamad. Under the arrangement, the militia is to be folded into the official Palestinian police force, he said.

Senior officials from both sides, including prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, joined the day-long talks.

“We agreed on practical steps to guarantee the end of the bloodshed in Palestinian streets,” Hamad said.

Hamas agreed to withdraw its force from public view late last month. But within days, the gunmen returned to their positions. After yesterday’s deal was announced, the Hamas force remained in full view.

Abbas has been vying for power with Hamas since the Islamic group defeated Fatah in legislative elections in January. The feud has revolved around control of the security forces.

With most forces loyal to Fatah, the Hamas government deployed its private militia last month. The militia is commanded by a top militant wanted by Israel and suspected in the deadly bombing of an American diplomatic convoy in 2003.

Abbas said the Hamas force was illegal, but said it could be folded into existing security agencies.

More violence preceded the deal. Early yesterday, a senior Fatah-linked police official escaped an apparent assassination attempt when a bomb went off prematurely, injuring an assailant. And a day earlier, a pro-Fatah security force base was struck by rocket-propelled grenades. Fatah blamed Hamas for both incidents.

It was not immediately clear whether the sides could use the deal to build momentum and overcome their dispute over a document that calls for implicit recognition of Israel.

Abbas has endorsed the plan for a united Palestinian political platform as a way to end crippling economic sanctions against the Palestinians and allow him to restart peace talks with Israel.

But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri hinted that Hamas would resist a referendum by force. “We will not accept the passing of this project no matter what it costs,” he said, charging that the goal of the referendum is to bring down the Hamas-led government.

Backing away from open confrontation, Abbas extended a deadline for Hamas to accept the document or face the voters in a referendum.

Abbas is now expected to set a date for the referendum on Saturday, aides say.

Israel and Western donors have suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in cash transfers to the Palestinians, demanding the Hamas-led government renounce violence and recognise Israel’s right to exist. Hamas has rejected the conditions, despite a cash crunch that has left it unable to pay salaries to thousands of civil servants.

The Palestinian document was formulated by politically powerful Hamas and Fatah prisoners held by Israel. But Hamas’ exiled leadership, which has the final say in policy decisions, has refused to endorse the plan.

Opinion polls have shown widespread public support for the document, a result that could deeply embarrass Hamas.

Hamas leaders have welcomed the offer to continue talks, but say they will not cave in to deadlines.

They say the language of the plan must be changed and reject the idea of a referendum just a few months after winning a national election.

“I get a sense there is a positive attitude in the national dialogue. But it still needs more time,” prime minister Haniyeh said yesterday.

Once Abbas sets a date for the referendum, the vote would take place about 45 days later. While Abbas says negotiations can continue until the vote, he has ruled out making any changes to the document. Abbas also said he would welcome international monitors to observe the vote.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said this week he was willing to meet with Abbas to discuss the possibility of restarting peace talks. But Israeli officials say it will be difficult to hold negotiations as long as Hamas remains committed to Israel’s destruction.

Olmert says he will carry out a unilateral pullout from large parts of the West Bank if peace efforts fail. The pullback would fall short of Palestinian claims to all of the area for part of an independent state.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Abbas said he is “ready” to meet with Olmert. He spoke after a meeting with visiting US envoy David Welch.