Israel Matzav

'Palestinian unity government' sworn in; US okays payments to terrorists

The 'Palestinian' unity government was sworn in on Monday after a last minute disagreement over a 'prisoners affairs' minister was sorted out.

At the inauguration ceremony, Abbas said the new government would abide by commitments made by previous Palestinian administrations and by agreements ratified by the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization, a reference to interim accords with Israel.

The unity government had appeared to be in danger earlier Monday when Hamas informed Fatah it would not recognize a unity government that did not have a Ministry for Prisoners Affairs.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said his movement would consider the Palestinian Authority president's announcement of the new government a "unilateral" step. Hamas, he added, "will not recognize this announcement."

But Hamas official Salah Al-Bardaweel later said it was agreed that the ministry would be given to Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah, "and the dispute between Hamas and Fatah has been resolved."

The reason Abu Bluff suddenly didn't want a ministry of 'prisoner affairs' was that he was afraid of how it would look to the West if his new junta was paying monthly 'salaries' to Hamas terrorists. As if they hadn't been paying until now or as if the Fatah terrorists are any better.

Arutz Sheva adds that the United States is okay with the practice of paying terrorists:

Despite the overwhelming evidence, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, defended the PA practice of paying salaries to terrorists in jail before Congress last week, saying "they have to provide for the families."

Unbelievable. 

Labels: Abu Mazen, Hamas prisoners, Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, Palestinian prisoners, Palestinian terrorists, prisoner salaries, Rami Hamdullah

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:34 PM