A majority of Palestinians want any upcoming government to conform to all deals the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has signed, according to a poll released on Wednesday.

According to the poll, which involved 900 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, 63 percent said they want the government to adhere to the agreements the PNA signed, while the rest believe the agreements are not binding to the upcoming government.

The survey was conducted by the Ramallah-based Near East Consulting Company between March 28-30, on the eve of the resumption of the unity and reconciliation talks between the Islamic Hamas movement and President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

Hamas and Fatah have agreed on forming a transitional unity government but are still debating on its obligations with Hamas refusing to approve any government that recognizes Israel. Hamas also declined to abide by the peace deals signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

Meanwhile, the majority of the respondents, 73 percent, said they want the formation of a unity government, while 16 percent said the government can be formed based on an understanding compromise.

Eight percent demanded a government in which Fatah holds the majority of the portfolios, while only 3 percent want a Hamas-dominated government, according to the survey.

Fifty-six percent of the polled believe the ongoing unity talks between Hamas and Fatah in Cairo would lead to reconciliation. Seventy percent of the Palestinians would blame both Hamas and Fatah for a failure, while 20 percent would blame Hamas and 10 percent blame Fatah.

On Wednesday, representatives of Hamas and Fatah resumed their talks in Cairo, hoping to reach an agreement on the outstanding issues. Their talks focus on forming a unity government, reforming the security services, reforming the PLO and holding elections to boost reconciliation.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2009)