"Hamas will sign the deal before the Arab summit on March 27 after getting Arab guarantees that its reservations on the Egyptian document would be taken into account at the time of its implementation," well-placed Palestinian sources told IslamOnline.
Tensions between Hamas and Fatah soared after Hamas trounced the long-dominant Fatah in the 2006 parliamentary elections.
The feud worsened amid a Western aid boycott of the Hamas-led government and turned bloody after Hamas drove out Fatah forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas from the Gaza Strip in 2007.
The Palestinians have since been having two separate governments one operating in Gaza under Hamas and another intentionally-recognized in the West Bank.
Egypt, which sponsored marathon reconciliation talks for months, presented a blueprint for a reconciliation deal to heal the rift and close Fatah-Hamas ranks.
While Fatah signed the paper, Hamas called for amendments, a demand firmly rejected by Egypt.
"Egypt will not make any amendments," confirmed the sources.
"But Hamas will sign the paper after advice from Arab countries that its refusal to do so will draw accusations at the Arab summit of hindering Palestinian unity."
Last month, Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal said they were ready to sign the reconciliation deal before or during the Arab summit.
Meshaal also hinted at Arab efforts to achieve reconciliation, but declined to go into details.
Embarrassing Fatah
The Palestinian sources acknowledge that Hams still has concerns that the deal will stumble on the ground.
"But it agrees to comply with Arab demands (to sign) out of keenness to give a real opportunity to Arab efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation."
Hamas, which accuses Fatah of arresting its activists in the occupied West Bank, describes political detentions as a stumbling block to any reconciliation.
But Fatah says the real problem lies with the formation of a Palestinian government that upholds agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority.
The sources believe the signing of the Egyptian paper would serve Hamas.
"The signing of the document without any amendments would boost Hamas standing as a pro-reconciliation group."
The move would also show the real intention of Fatah.
"It will put Fatah and Abbas in a real test and show their genuine position on reconciliation," says the sources.
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