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| Palestinian official of Fatah Zakaria al-Agha (R) leaves for Egypt through Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza Strip, May 2, 2011. Palestinian faction representatives headed Sunday for Egypt to sign the national unity agreement. (Xinhua\Khaled Omar) |
The ceremony and the declaration of the agreement are scheduled on Wednesday under Egyptian sponsorship. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah party and Khaled Mashaal, the head of rival Hamas movement, would be the main guests since they represent the two parties to the Palestinian division.
Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister in the Fatah-ruled West Bank, and Ismail Haneya of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip's government, were not invited to attend the ceremony. The two governments were formed when Hamas took over Gaza by force in June 2007.
On Wednesday, Hamas and Fatah signed an initial agreement to form a technocratic government holding sway in Gaza and the West Bank. This government will prepare for presidency and legislative elections within one year.
Azzam Al-Ahmad, a Fatah official, said the formation of the new government will begin as soon as the agreement is signed. The immediate task awaiting the government is to restore unity to Palestinian national institutions in the two territories.
There will also be talks to form a higher committee that will act as the transitional leadership for Palestine Liberation Organization until the elections of the organization's National Council, according to Al-Ahmad. Abbas will head the committee, which will comprise representatives of the factions, including Hamas.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas official, refused to reveal names of possible candidates for the new government. He also said the new government needs long time to implement the agreement.
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