Palestinian officials claim unity agreement reached on ending 4-year-old rift

[Scurrilous]

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"Palestinian officials from the rival Fatah and Hamas movements say they have reached an initial agreement on ending a four-year-old rift that has left them divided between rival governments in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The officials say the plan calls for the formation of a single caretaker government in the coming days, and preparations to hold presidential and legislative elections a year from now.

The officials say the agreement was reached through Egyptian mediation. They spoke on condition of anonymity before a formal announcement in Cairo later Wednesday."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i7Z_ziiOazCW4BkmR7Bg5summIiw?docId=6681308

[azurnoir]

1. we'll have see how this pans out

Israel's reaction too should be 'interesting'

[azurnoir]

2. Egypt sending team to Gaza to help implement Palestinian deal

Egypt will send a security team to the Gaza Strip to help implement a reconciliation agreement reached by rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas, an Egyptian security source told Reuters on Thursday.

Restructuring and unifying security forces in Hamas-run Gaza is a key condition for the success of the accord, brokered by Egypt on Wednesday to overcome a rift that had stifled a Palestinian drive for independence.

"An Egyptian security delegation will head to Gaza to help settle and organize the internal security situation there, now that the reconciliation agreement is finally in place," said the security source, who declined to be identified.

He said the security team would seek to meld the disparate security forces belonging to Palestinian factions in Gaza, but declined to explain how.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/egypt-sending-team-to-gaza-to-help-implement-palestinian-deal-1.358655