After weeks of marathon negotiations, Palestinian factions reached an agreement on Tuesday afternoon on an amended version of the Prisoners’ Document.
The Islamic Jihad faction refused to sign the agreement.
The document supports the formation of an independent Palestinian state on “all the lands that were occupied in 1967,” with Jerusalem as its capital.
The document says the Palestinians have a right to resort to “resistance against the occupation” a term indicating attacks against Israelis. It calls to focus these activities within post-1967 territories, while at the same time engaging in diplomatic negotiations.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas and Prime Minister Isma’il Haniyya still need to set a date to sign the document.
‘Abbas announced in May that if Hamas refused to accept the document, he would take it to the people in the form of a referendum, an idea that Hamas rejected.
Required arrangements have been made to form a unity government within two weeks, Fatah spokesman ‘Abd Al-Hakim ‘Aw’d said.