Gaza, West Bank Palestinians celebrate unity deal

Delighted Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip took to the streets on Wednesday to celebrate the signing of

Will Israel allow their happiness to last?

Delighted Palestinians take to the streets as they celebrate reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah.

By Hazel Ward - GAZA CITY

a reconciliation deal between bitter rivals Hamas and Fatah.

As Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal sat down in Cairo to ratify the deal with president Mahmud Abbas, who heads the Fatah faction, more than 1,000 people turned out in Gaza City to show their support, with parallel demonstrations in the West Bank.

In Gaza, the demonstrators marched from all over the city to gather at the Square of the Unknown Soldier in a festive atmosphere, with people dancing in circles and letting off fire crackers as they cheered the deal aimed at ending years of division between the two rival national movements.

The square and the surrounding streets were turned into a sea of coloured flags, most of them Palestinian.

But in a real sign of change, scores of people held up the yellow flag of Fatah, which has been banned in Gaza since the Islamists kicked the secular movement out of the territory in June 2007.

"This is the first time in four years I can hold a Fatah flag alongside a Palestinian flag," said Mahmud al-Riati, a 20-year-old engineering student with a Palestinian flag tied around his shoulders like a cape.

"Abbas stood up to Israel and he chose to continue the agreement with Hamas. He refused to give in to Israeli pressure and chose the Palestinian side," he said, struggling to make his voice heard over the honking of car horns and loudspeakers blaring music into the square.

Among Gaza's youth, the mood was overwhelmingly optimistic, despite the host of issues yet to be ironed out under the deal.

"This is the day that we've all been waiting for," someone bellowed into a loudspeaker, praising the March 15 youth movement that organised mass demonstrations across the Palestinian territories some six weeks ago which played an important role in pushing the leadership to reach a deal.

"It is our liberation today," he shouted, saying it was all down to the youth who suffered arrests and beatings as they repeatedly called for the two factions to reconcile. "It has all been worth it!"

The reconciliation deal envisages Hamas and Fatah working to put together an interim government of candidates unaffiliated with either faction, who will rule until presidential and legislative elections can be held within a year.

"This is one of the most important days in the history of the Palestinian cause because we've been suffering from this situation for four years so you can imagine our excitement," said Ebaa Razeq, a young woman involved in the March 15th movement.

"We can't wait to see the new government and for the elections," said the 20-year-old excitedly. "They have all of the main issues to resolve but I think it will work."

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad described the signing of the deal as a "very happy moment."

"We've been waiting a long time for this to happen," he said.

And Hanan Ashrawi, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said the agreement was "an important step towards Palestinian statehood and lasting peace."

But the demonstrations were much smaller in the West Bank.

Only several dozen people gathered in Ramallah's Manara Square and outside the parliament building, with those present considerably more cautious about the prospects of the reconciliation working.

"It's a positive thing, but it must be brought to life," said one member of the March 15 movement, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Having Meshaal and Abbas in one room is a good first step, but it must be noted that the reconciliation's problem was not just signing a piece of paper."

Bashir Saleh, who works for a local NGO, said everyone was aware how much was at stake.

"Signing the agreement is very important because the Palestinian people don't have any choice except reconciliation," the 48-year-old said.

"I hope it will continue on the ground because if they fail this time, it will be a big failure for Hamas and Fatah."

Back in Gaza City, Yasser Muhessin wandered through the crowd wearing a cape made up of a green Hamas flag stitched together with the yellow flag of Fatah.

"This agreement is newborn -- like a new baby -- and the Palestinian people must come together to protect it," he said.

But it would only succeed if the factions worked together, he said.

"They have to," he said. "There's no other choice."

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