Israel Matzav

Fatah and Hamas reach understandings, 'government' to move to Gaza

Fatah and Hamas have reached 'understandings' pursuant to which they are 'reconciling' and moving their 'government's seat to Gaza. Fatah is downplaying concerns expressed by the United States and Israel. And the two parties have agreed to get rid of Salam Fayyad, which is only going to make international donors more jittery. But the 'Palestinians' are now denying some of those reports and trying to put a damper on others.

The issue of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas is an internal Palestinian affair and no one has the right to intervene in it, a Palestinian Authority official in Ramallah said Saturday.

The official, who was responding to reports about Israeli and American opposition to efforts to achieve reconciliation between the two rival parties, said that neither the US nor Israel had the right "to meddle in the internal affairs of the Palestinians."

He also denied that the US Administration had threatened to cut off financial aid to the Palestinians because of the rapprochement between the two parties.

It may well be an 'internal Palestinian affair' but the 'Palestinians' have no right to dictate how the World will react to whatever decisions they make.

Meanwhile, Hamas and Fatah officials denied that they have agreed to move the headquarters of the next Palestinian government from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.

...

On the eve of the Abbas-Mashaal summit, sources close to Hamas and Fatah said that the two sides have agreed that current Prime Minister Salam Fayyad would not head a new unity government.

Hamas's fierce opposition to Fayyad's nomination has prevented the implementation of the Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation accord that was announced last May.

Until recently, Abbas and Fatah had rejected the Hamas stance, insisting that Fayyad remain in his job after the formation of a unity government.

Last week, Fayyad hinted that he would be prepared to step down to facilitate the implementation of the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement.

Over the weekend, some Fatah representatives in Ramallah said that it was possible that Hamas would agree to having Fayyad serve as finance minister in the proposed unity government.

Those 'Fatah representatives' have undoubtedly started to think through the implications of losing much of their international aid money.

In a related development, senior Hamas representative Ahmed Yusef announced that his movement and Fatah have agreed that the headquarters of the next government would be based in the Gaza Strip and not in the West Bank.

Yusef told the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper that Hamas and Fatah have also reached agreement on a political platform that envisages the establishment of a Palestinian state within the pre-1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital.

Yusef, a former political advisor to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, claimed that in the past Abbas insisted on Fayyad because he was worried that removing him would disrupt his plan to apply for Palestinian membership in the UN.

Amin Maqboul, a Fatah representative in the West Bank, denied that the new government would be moved to the Gaza Strip. He said that this was one of the issues that would be discussed between Abbas and Mashaal.

Another top Hamas official, Salah Bardaweel, also denied that the two parties had reached agreement on moving the government headquarters to the Gaza Strip.

He also denied that Hamas and Fatah have reached agreement on the identity of the prime minister who would head a new unity government consisting of independent figures.

Bardaweel warned that failure of the Abbas-Mashaal summit would have "negative consequences" for the Palestinians, but did not elaborate.

He added that despite the optimism surrounding the Abbas-Mashaal summit, Hamas was concerned about the continued crackdown on its supporters in the West Bank by Abbas's security forces.

In contrast, Nabil Sha'ath, member of the Fatah Central Committee, voiced optimism over the prospects of ending the dispute with Hamas.

YNet adds that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is also expected to stay out of the next government. A quid pro quo for Fayyad?

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported Saturday that neither Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh nor Fatah PM Fayyad will seek the premiership in the next Palestinian elections.

"Ismail Haniyeh and Salam Fayyad were causes of disagreement in the previous stage, and so both will be exempted," Youssef said.

Should be an interesting week. What could go wrong?

Labels: Abu Mazen, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, Ismail Haniyeh, Salam Fayyad

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:24 AM