Roundup: Palestinians heading for unity government

Palestinians are heading for a unity government as media reports said Saturday that rival factions in the territories have agreed to form a national unity government in the near future.

According to local Mann news agency, the ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) will keep Prime Minister Ismail Haneya in his post while giving rival Fatah three key portfolios of information, foreign affairs and finance.

The interior minister post would be commissioned to an independent figure, added the report.

Meanwhile, Haneya, in a televised speech on Saturday, also promised to resume national dialogue to reach the coalition based on the Prisoners' Document for National Accordance initiated by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, calling on rival Hamas and Fatah factions to end feud and all kinds of internal clashes.

Forming a unity government and maintaining Palestinian principles were the best solution to end political and financial crises in the territories due to the West's sanctions on Hamas, Haneya stressed.

In an reaction to Haneya's speech, a Fatah spokesman Maher Meqddad immediately expressed the party's welcome to the call for defusing factional tension, while urging Hamas "to translate its speech into actions on the ground."

Another Fatah spokesman Abdel Hakim Awad revealed that the Higher Follow-up Committee of National and Islamic Factions is going to convene in the Gaza Strip tonight to discuss offers to relaunch internal talks on forming the unity government.

The meeting would be held under sponsorship by President Abbas. The members will study plans offered by Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which used to mediate between Hamas and Fatah rivals, said Awad.

The developments came as the rivals did not deny reports that an initial deal on forming a coalition government was agreed between Hamas exiled politburo chief Khaled Mashaal and mediators close to Fatah.

According to the deal, the key portfolios would be shared between Hamas, Fatah and independent ministers in a future government that will comprise all players of the Palestinian political spectrum.

Cabinet minister Atef Odwan confirmed that Haneya will remain in his post in any future government, expressing optimism that an expected meeting between Abbas and Mashaal during Abbas' visit to Damascus in coming days "would reflect positive results in forming a government and lifting siege (against Palestinians)."

Since Hamas took office in March 2006 by winning legislative elections, the Palestinians have witnessed economic and political crises triggered by international sanctions imposed on the Hamas- led government due to its rejection of the West's demands of renouncing violence, recognizing Israel and honoring previous peace deals.

Hamas and Fatah had engaged in talks for several months in an effort to form a coalition in an attempt to end the international siege, but such efforts failed due to differences over sharing of key cabinet posts.

In spite of rejection by Hamas, Abbas has called for early presidential and parliamentary elections to settle differences with Hamas, which has triggered factional infighting between Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian territories with dozens of people killed.

Earlier on Saturday, Abbas arrived in Amman for a brief visit to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, hours before U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel to start her Middle East tour, who is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah on Sunday.

Jordan's news agency Petra quoted Abbas as saying that it is impossible for him to hold a meeting with Haneya offered by Jordan due to the "difficult and unfavorable circumstances" prevailing in the Palestinian territories.

"Internal Palestinian situation should be arranged and prepared appropriately before such a meeting can be held so that it can yield the sought for results," Abbas said.

However, he confirmed that consultations are underway to form a government of national unity with a program capable of ending international blockade on the Palestinian areas.

Media reports said that months of factional fighting between the governing Hamas and the once-dominant Fatah seemed to be going to an end as President Abbas of Fatah agreed with Prime Minister Haneya of Hamas to resume national talks to from a unity government.

Both leaders talked over the phone tonight, said the reports, adding that Abbas has praised Haneya for his Saturday speech calling for renouncing infighting to from a national unity government.

Source: Xinhua