The Palestinian Legislative Councilapproved the agrecment reached bythe Palestinlans" two major politicalfactions, Hamas and Fatah, on form-ing a national unlW govemment onMarch 17. The unity government came as acompromise among various political forcesinside and outside of Palestine, in whichSaudi Arabia played a pivotal role. Theannouncement not only is symbolically con-ducive to ending the turmoil in the territorybut also has injected new impetus into thesmiled Middle East peace process.