The Palestinian leadership has finally came to its senses somewhat. In the Cairo Summit, Fatah and Hamas (as well as other factions) agreed to form a unity government and bury the hatchets of the past three years. They expressed gratitude to Egypt for taking on such a monumental step and serving delicious foul mdemmas, which created the right mood for quick deal-making.

The agreement calls for a new national unity government to be formed by the end of March this year. However, the most important piece of the agreement is the formation of five new committees that will oversee certain aspects of governance:

1. Committee for forming a new national unity government

2. Committee to oversee security affairs

3. Committee for reforming and reenergizing the PLO

4. Committee to plan and handle the upcoming election-both presidential and legislative.

5. Committee for National reconciliation, spreading respect for democratic values, and rejecting infighting.

The agreement also requires that both parties would release whatever prisoners they have. Most of the burden is on Fatah, which holds dozens of Hamas supporters in the West Bank.

They also agreed to stop the accusations and all media spats they have been waging against each other since the June 2007 fallout.

Unlike the other previous agreements like the one in Mecca 2007, I am more hopeful this agreement has legs and I think it can last.

1. The Palestinian people are tired of Abbas’ lack of action and Hamas’ inability to deliver on their promises. Needless to say both parties have low approval ratings, not Bush low, which was ghastly low, but just solidly, plainly low.

2. The election of the rather hawkish Israeli parties and the gloomy prospects of an extra-thuggish Israeli right wing government coalition did not help Abbas’ position.

Also, the election of Obama and his signals that he wouldn’t try to undermine the new national government — unlike the former administration — encouraged this political movement. As we all know Palestinian politics around the PA are always subject to higher authorities, and I don’t mean God.

The US administration is flirting with Syria and Iran (solid Hamas allies) and Syria and Iran are flirting back.

My hatta goes to both Fatah and Hamas for signing this agreement and committing to make it work, but we’ll see. Agreements are only as good as their staying power.

I think Egypt is the biggest winner of all. They artfully managed to bring the foes and put together such a summit that could earn the commitment of interested parties — and Egypt needed it politically. It has so little else to stand on.

People who care about Palestine are praying and hoping this agreement will work because frankly the alternatives are frighteningly familiar. Another breakdown and round of factionalization will just further weaken an already relatively powerless people. In the meantime, I will continue my quest for finding the best plate of foul mdemmas that our nation’s capital has to offer.

[Tarboush Tip: Will]

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5. Palestinian Campaign Finance Reform