The new Egyptian ideas for a reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas are based on the recent reconciliation agreement, Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. They said that Egypt has proposed executing the agreement gradually within a time frame, yet with minor changes. The agreement calls for forming a new national unity government to handle the West Bank and Gaza Strip, hold new general elections and agree on clear and binding solutions to the problems of dues collection and former employees in Hamas government. According to the sources, Egypt has focused on the two main obstacles that contributed to the failure of reaching an agreement, which are the staff of Hamas and the security and financial empowerment of the Palestinian Authority. “Egypt has not changed the agreement, but it has proposed the formation of a government of national unity and the handover of Gaza Strip to the PA, including security and collection of dues, in return for stopping any actions against Gaza Strip, hiring Hamas civilian staff,” sources added. However, the proposals did not include clear solutions to other issues, such as how to control the security services, the fate of Hamas military forces, the judiciary and weapons. The sources said that the PA has informed Egypt that it does not mind the issue of gradualism but wants comprehensive empowerment, stressing that it is not against empowerment, but sanctions must be lifted on Gaza and Hamas employees must be accommodated on the basis of partnership. The parties agreed in principle that general elections should be held after a specified period of reconciliation. The sources pointed out that the exact details on the border crossings, collection of dues, security institutions, judiciary and land authority, which have sparked differences, will be later discussed in meetings between the two parties on the basis of empowerment of authority.