RAMALLAH, Gaza, June 27 (UPI) -- Two of the feuding Palestinian political parties signed a unity agreement Tuesday that opens the door to peace negotiations with Israel over borders.
Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh reportedly signed the agreement in Ramallah, bringing the territory back from the brink of civil war, Israel's Arutz Sheva newspaper reported.
Armed militias from both groups had been escalating violence toward one another in the past two weeks.
Details of the unity agreement were expected to be made public Wednesday, Ynetnews.com reported.
Abbas supported a proposal that would involve negotiating borders with Israel as set in 1967, which the newly elected Hamas rejected, as it refuses to recognize Israel's sovereignty.
It was unclear if Hamas had completely abandoned that stance in the unity agreement, however.
Abbas had used his political might to threaten a referendum on the issue, but reportedly has withdrawn the threat.
If Hamas had lost that referendum, Abbas has the power to dissolve parliament and call new elections.
