Fatah signed the Yemeni-sponsored proposal for reconciliation with Hamas because of a mixup, a top Palestinian official said on Monday.

The terms of the Yemeni deal, which was signed on Sunday, include rival factions Fatah and Hamas agreeing on the goal of uniting in a single Palestinian government.
Senior Fatah official, former Palestinian Prime Minister Azzam Al Ahmad, signed the proposal on Fatah’s behalf, but top Palestinian negotiator, Ahmed Qureia suggested on Monday that this decision was hasty.

He said that Al Ahmad called to get guidance from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but Abbas was busy with US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit.

Qureia added that "there was a misunderstanding" involved in the signing, echoing the views of other Abbas aides who said the deal should not have been signed.