A deal was reached Thursday in talks between Hamas and Fatah to form a Palestinian unity government in an effort to end months of deadly street battles in Gaza. The United States and other members of the Quartet (the European Union, Russia and the United Nations), welcomed the role played by Saudi Arabia in bringing the parties together this week but reiterated the position that the Palestinian government must remain "committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap."

Today we present for your consideration an article from USINFO, representing the views of the U.S. State Department, reaction from the Quartet, and related news reporting on these developments.

United States Welcomes Saudi Effort To Resolve Palestinian Feuds
U.S. officials withhold comment on formation of national unity government

By David Shelby
USINFO Staff Writer

Washington � The United States welcomed the efforts of Saudi Arabia�s King Abdullah to bridge the divide between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas during two days of negotiations in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, but U.S. officials declined to comment on the February 8 announcement that the two sides have reached agreement on the formation of a national unity government.

�We do not yet have all the details of either the program of this government of national unity or the composition,� said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack during a February 9 press briefing. �The details matter in this regard.. ..We believe that the government should be clearly and credibly committed to the principles reiterated by the Quartet at its meeting last week in Washington and should be a partner in peace.�

Following Hamas� January 2006 electoral victory, the Quartet, which includes the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States, demanded that the new government renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept all previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In subsequent meetings, including a February 2 gathering in Washington, the group has reiterated its demands. Because the Hamas-led government has refused to meet those conditions, international donors have suspended their financial assistance. (See related article.)

In a February 9 statement, the Quartet urged the new unity government to respect these principles. The group said it plans to meet in Berlin February 21 to review developments associated with the formation of the new government.

McCormack said that adherence to the Quartet�s principles and peaceful negotiations are in the interest of the Palestinian people. �The Palestinian people deserve a government that is committed to the pathway of peace. It's very clear. That is the way that the Palestinian people will realize a Palestinian state -- through the pathway to negotiation,� he said.

In recent months, armed clashes between supporters of Fatah and Hamas have left dozens of Palestinians dead. The new accord seeks to end that violence by setting out a power-sharing agreement in which Hamas reportedly retains nine Cabinet posts while Fatah assumes six. According to news reports, independent politicians will be named to the key ministries of foreign affairs and the interior. The agreement leaves Hamas� Ismail Haniyeh in the position of prime minister.

State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey expressed the hope that this agreement will bring calm to the Palestinian Territories.

�We certainly want to see an end to violence, whether that violence is Palestinian and Israeli or intra-Palestinian violence. It certainly doesn�t serve the interests of the Palestinian people and of course it certainly doesn�t serve the interests of the international community for there to be any kind of fighting in the territories,� he said.

See also the full text of the Quartet statement. (below)

For more information on U.S. policy, see The Middle East: A Vision for the Future (link below).

(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov )

9 February 2007

Quartet Statement Reaffirming Support for Palestinian Government
Group expresses hope �desired calm would prevail�

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
February 9, 2007

Media Note

Quartet Statement on the Agreement to Form A Palestinian National Unity Government

Following is the text of a statement issued by the Quartet (United Nations, Russian Federation, the United States and European Union).

Begin Text:

The Quartet Principals � Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner � discussed by telephone today the situation in the Middle East.

The Quartet welcomed the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in reaching the agreement to form a Palestinian National Unity government. The Quartet expressed hope that the desired calm would prevail.

While awaiting formation of the new Palestinian government, the Quartet reaffirmed its statement of February 2 regarding its support for a Palestinian government committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.

Quartet members will meet February 21 in Berlin to continue their consideration of these developments, and to review formation and implementation of the agreement on the government. They welcomed the upcoming February 19 trilateral meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Quartet will discuss the way ahead at the February 21 meeting.

(end text)

Source: U.S. State Dept.

Related Info:

• U.S. Wary of New Palestinian Accord - Deal Could Divide Washington and Its Allies, Affect Rice's Mideast Peace Mission

• US withholds judgment on Palestinian agreement - Reuters

• Hamas wants West to end blockade - The Age (Australia)

• Palestinians celebrate Mecca agreement - Houston Chronicle/AP

• Rice Says Mideast Peace Process Can Defuse Palestinian Violence - Secretary says possibility of statehood would give hope to Palestinians - US State Dept.

• The Middle East: A Vision for the Future - US State Department

• Palestinian leaders aim to sell new deal - Houston Chronicle

• Palestinians express hope for unity pact - Factional feud left unresolved in Mecca deal - Boston Globe