Palestinians near a "deal"

Haaretz:

Fatah sources said Thursday night that a deal had been reached with rival Palestinian faction Hamas on the formation of a unity government, and an official announcement would be made within the coming hour.

The sources were speaking as Hamas and Fatah leaders held a second day of talks in Mecca aimed at halting months of violence and agreeing on a coalition that will end an international boycott of the Hamas-led government.

Izat Rishak, one of the senior aides to exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Mashal, said that there were still several details to be ironed out before an agreement could be signed. He added that the two delegations were making great efforts to work out all their differences by Thursday night.

The unity government agreement is expected to include a clause stating that the Palestinian government vows to "respect" the signed agreements between the PLO and Israel, resolutions drafted by the Palestinian National Authority as well as International and Arab resolutions. However, the agreement will not state that the Palestinian government must "abide" by these agreements and resolutions.

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The agreement is just one that will let them work together and the compromise in the lasted quoted paragraph suggest there is little likelihood for a deal with Israel. My speculation is that they tried to come up with just enough to start the cash flow from the US and Euros without really agreeing to do anything substantive with Israel. Even if they had reached such an agreement, it is doubtful it would have been of any value since neither of them has shown any willingness to reign in terrorist subgroups who continue to attack Israel during their "truce agreements" with Israel.