Armed factions pledged on Thursday to work with the Palestinian Authority to ensure the success of Israel's historic pullout from the Gaza Strip next month, prime minister Ahmed Qorei said. A recent wave of deadly violence has compounded fears that Israel's pullout will be marred by attacks and cast deep shadows over an informal seven-month truce observed by armed Palestinian groups.
But after talks with faction leaders in Gaza City, Qorei said all parties were determined to work constructively together and demonstrate national unity rather than embarrass the Palestinian Authority by launching attacks.
He repeated an offer to the factions to join a national unity government, an idea so far rejected by the likes of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
"It was a very important meeting between us and all the factions, where we agreed to organise ourselves for the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank," he told reporters.
"Everyone confirmed that we want this move to be a success and everyone wants to play a part in its success."
The meeting, 20 days before the historic withdrawal begins, was the first between the Palestinian Authority leadership and faction representatives since Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas relocated to Gaza to monitor the pullout.
Qorei said the factions had agreed to form a joint committee to prepare for the withdrawal. The committee would be headed by Ibrahim Abu Najar, a member of the mainstream Fatah faction who also heads the umbrella 13-member High Committee of National and Islamic Forces organisation.
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