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Download China hailed a Palestinian reconciliation deal on ending a seven-year internal split, saying it will build Palestine's internal solidarity. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a daily news briefing on Thursday, "China welcomes the positive progress on Palestine's internal reconciliation, and we congratulate it for this." Qin's comments came after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and the Hamas movement announced a reconciliation agreement on Wednesday. Under the agreement, the Fatah party and the Hamas movement will start discussions on forming a unity government within five weeks and hold general parliamentary and presidential elections within six months. The new deal is the outcome of two days of intensive discussions between Hamas officials and a prominent delegation representing the Palestine Liberation Organization. "We are convinced that the deal will help build Palestine's internal solidarity. Fundamentally, it will also help the ultimate realization of the Palestinian nation and the peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel," Qin said. He called on the international community to give a clear signal of encouragement and offer continued assistance. However, the United States said it will have to reconsider its assistance to the Palestinians if Hamas and Fatah form a government together. "Any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to nonviolence, recognition of the state of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the parties," a senior US administration official said, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity. | 
