Updated on Thursday, October 15, 2009, 00:13 IST Tags:Fatah, Hamas

Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party today said it had accepted a proposal to hold new presidential and legislative elections next year as part of a broad package meant to end a bitter rivalry with the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan said the party had signed the Egyptian-mediated proposal and was dispatching an envoy to Cairo tomorrow to deliver the response. With Egypt seeking a response by tomorrow, it remained unclear whether Hamas would accept the deal.

"We have accepted the Egyptian request. Fatah doesn't want to put any obstacles in the way of efforts for national reconciliation. Whoever doesn't respond positively to these efforts will be held responsible," Dahlan said.

The Palestinians have had two rival governments since Hamas fighters ousted pro-Abbas security forces from the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Hamas remains in control of Gaza, while the Western-backed Fatah governs the West Bank. The Palestinians claim both areas as parts of a future independent state.

The infighting has complicated US-led efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians. While talking to the West Bank government, Israel considers Hamas a terrorist group and maintains a tight blockade over Gaza.

Under the Egyptian proposal, the Palestinians would hold presidential and legislative elections on June 28. In the meantime, Hamas would allow some 3,000 Fatah loyalists to return to duty in the security forces in Gaza.

Bureau Report