(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Fatah party of President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas in power in Ghaza in late April concluded a reconciliation agreement designed to counter more than four years of inter-Palestinian divisions.
"The Palestinian unity is a prerequisite for achieving the two-state solution, not an obstacle," wrote the signatories in the letter addressed to the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and head of European diplomacy Catherine Ashton.
This pre-requisite, say former officials, "would strengthen Israel's security, including helping to consolidate a cease-fire to prevent further attacks from Ghaza against Israeli civilians and to facilitate exchange of Palestinian prisoners against the soldier captured by Hamas, Gilad Shalit."
This agreement and the major changes in the Middle East "offers a chance for the U.S. and the EU to change course," said the letter signed by former ministers including Foreign Affairs, including French Hubert Vedrine, Australian Gareth Evans and Dutchman Hans van den Broek.
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