Hamas, Fatah okay Israel plan

The rival Hamas and Fatah movements today completed an agreement over a plan that implicitly recognises Israel, ending weeks of acrimonious negotiations, a top official said.

The rival Hamas and Fatah movements today completed an agreement over a plan that implicitly recognises Israel, ending weeks of acrimonious negotiations, a top official said. ‘‘We have an agreement over the document,’’ said Ibrahim Abu Najah, coordination of the ‘‘national dialogue’’ over the proposal.

President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah has been trying to coax his Hamas rivals into endorsing the document, which was formulated by senior Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Abbas has endorsed the plan as a way to end crippling economic sanctions against the Hamas-led Palestinian government and pave the way to reopening peace talks.

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However, the deal was overshadowed by a crisis over the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and opposition to the deal voiced by Islamic Jihad, a small militant group that has carried out numerous attacks against Israel.

‘‘In today’s meeting, we announced we reject some of the articles of this document and we have reservations about other articles,’’ said Khaled al-Batch, spokesman for Islamic Jihad.

The plan calls for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, in effect recognising Israel. It also calls on militants to limit attacks to areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War and calls for formation of a coalition government.

Hamas and Fatah have been locked in a power struggle since Hamas won legislative elections in January. Hamas controls the Parliament and the Cabinet. Abbas, a political moderate, was elected separately last year.

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Israel has said the document is an internal Palestinian matter, but said it falls short of international demands that Hamas renounce violence and formally recognise the Jewish state.

With Hamas-linked militants holding a captured Israeli soldier, the Palestinian agreement is even less likely to reduce tensions. Israel has massed troops along its border with Gaza, promising a broad offensive into the area.

IBRAHIM BARZAK