23/04/2014 19:17
Hamas and Fatah unveil Palestinian reconciliation deal
Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have announced a reconciliation deal, saying they will seek to form a unity government in the coming weeks, the BBC reported.
It comes as the peace talks between President Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel near collapse.
Hamas and Fatah split violently in 2007. Previous reconciliation agreements have never been implemented.
Israel's prime minister said Mr Abbas would have to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas.
"You can have one but not the other. I hope he chooses peace; so far he hasn't done so," warned Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Abbas sent a delegation to Gaza for talks earlier this week.
The latest deal was announced on Wednesday at a news conference by representatives of Fatah and Hamas, an Islamist group designated a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and the EU.
The factions said they planned to form an interim unity government within five weeks and hold parliamentary elections within six months.
"This is the good news we tell our people," Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of the Hamas-led government in Gaza, told reporters. "The era of division is over."