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Monday, October 13, 2008

Hamas allows Abbas to stay on until summer

GAZA CITY — Hamas has approved the extension of the term of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian sources said Hamas has agreed to an Egyptian reconciliation plan for the extension of Abbas's term by at least six months. The sources said the agreement was relayed during Hamas talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo in early October.

"Right now, Hamas is willing to allow for a brief extension of Abbas's term in exchange for power-sharing and a date for elections," a Palestinian source said.

The Hamas agreement came days after leaders of the Islamic movement demanded the resignation when his term ends on Jan. 9, 2009. Abbas was said to have sought an extension of his term for at least one year under emergency rule.

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But the sources said the Egyptian plan outlined a six-month extension of Abbas's term as part of a Fatah-Hamas government. Under the plan, the Palestinian Authority would enable Hamas to join the security forces and share responsibility of the Rafah border terminal.

"Accepting the Egyptian plan by all factions, including Fatah and Hamas is a step forward towards ending the current political split between Gaza and the West Bank," former PA minister Nabil Shaath, who heads the Fatah delegation in the Cairo talks, said.

The Palestine News Network said the Egyptian plan also included reform and restructuring of the PA security forces. PNA said Hamas would also agree to postponing any reform of the Palestine Liberation Organization until PA elections.

The PA has been targeting Hamas strongholds in the West Bank. The PA reported a raid of a Hamas bomb factory in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Oct. 10 and the seizure of 100 kilograms of explosives.

"The factory was preparing bombs which would have been used against us and against the will of the Palestinians," Hebron police chief Col. Ramadan Awad said.



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