The PA just got $150 million in unprecedented direct aid after the State Department steamrolled over Congressional concerns about Palestinian terrorism. So now it's just about time for another unity government that gives Hamas access to all that loot:

Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have come to terms with signing a deal to revive direct talks after months of rivalry. The two factions reconvened in San'a on Sunday in an effort to hammer out a compromise over the future of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. "We, the representatives of Fatah and Hamas, agree to the Yemeni initiative as a framework to resume dialogue between the two movements to return the Palestinian situation to what it was before the Gaza incidents," the San'a Declaration said. The deal, which was signed by top Hamas negotiator Moussa Abu Marzouk and senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmed, also affirmed the "unity of the Palestinian people, territory and authority." The talks, launched last week by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, had come close to collapse several times.

No worries though - Israel just went ballistic so Abbas's people are saying that he signed the reconciliation deal by accident. Yes, really:

Top aides to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday distanced themselves from a Yemeni plan outlining a path to reconciliation with Hamas movement, and one said an Abbas envoy only signed the document because of a mixup... On Sunday, al-Ahmed and a senior Hamas representative, Moussa Abu Marzouk, signed a declaration that both accept a Yemeni initiative calling for the creation of a national unity government and the rebuilding of security forces loyal to that government instead of factions. On Sunday, al-Ahmed and a senior Hamas representative, Moussa Abu Marzouk, signed a declaration that both accept a Yemeni initiative calling for the creation of a national unity government and the rebuilding of security forces loyal to that government instead of factions. "There was a misunderstanding," Qurei told reporters Monday. "President Abbas was busy hosting Cheney, and Azzam tried many times to contact him (Abbas), but couldn't reach him. The talks were at the end, and time was pressing."

"Hey, while you're meeting with the US Veep - we're considering signing a deal officially linking you to a group of genocidal lunatics who are so crazy that not even the US State Department likes them. What do you think" - that was apparently too complicated to put on a note and physically hand to Abbas. They couldn't think up of an excuse that was less insultingly stupid? Really?

References:
* Mere Rhetoric: PA Responds To $150M In New US Funding By Explicitly Rejecting Israel's Right To Exist. Again. [MR]
* Fatah, Hamas come to terms [INRA]
* Israeli warning to Abbas over deal with Hamas [AFP]
* 'Signing of Yemeni proposal a mixup' [JPost]

Previously:
* Saudis: Now That Abbas Is Getting Land, We're Going To Reunite Fatah And Hamas (Plus: They Didn't Even Have Their Ear Pieces In At Annapolis)
* Abbas To Secure Position Against Hamas By Releasing 25 Hamas Soldiers. Wait, What?
* Abbas: Good Chance We'll Use Our US Security Assistance To Go Back To Killing Israelis