The Palestinian Authority has not contacted Hamas regarding a proposed unity government, but the Islamic resistance movement is nevertheless ready with its conditions to join the coalition, according to Hamas’ spokesman in Gaza, Mahmoud Al Zahhar.
Zahhar told Albawaba.com that it had two requirements for participation: a government program geared towards the Intifada’s objectives, and the careful establishment of an administrative and civil service system with well-defined areas of authority for security forces.
He said that the first point meant ruling out any negotiations with Israel that were not based on insistent demands for an end to the occupation and the removal of settlements.
Hamas also demands that the national resistance continue until these goals are achieved, he added.
In addition, the spokesman said, a strategy should be drawn up to define Palestinian relations with the Arab World on the one hand, and Israel on the other.
The top Hamas official said that the PA had formed a committee to coordinate with all factions composed of Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, State Minister Nabil Amr and Telecommunications Minister Emad Falouji.
The demand for a coalition government in the Palestinian territories has been raised by leaders of various key figures, including Marwan Barghouthi, the West Bank secretary of the Fateh movement aligned with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
However, PA Minister Nabil Sha'ath, speaking Thursday in an interview on Palestinian Radio, said the Palestinians would not succeed in creating a national unity government with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
Sha'ath was quoted by Haaretz as telling the radio station that they would only be able to create "a united national front to defend the Palestinian people from continued Israeli actions."
Sha'ath was speaking after a meeting was held Wednesday night by members of the high council of Fateh’s organization in the Occupied Territories. The council discussed the possibility of entering into negotiations with other Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas, to establish the unity government.
Sha'ath also said that it would not be possible to reach a consensus on a political plan with the Palestinian opposition.
Israel Radio reported that Arafat was to hold a meeting Thursday night in his Ramallah offices with members of various Palestinian factions, in order to reach an agreement on Palestinian policies.
The meeting is to be attended by Palestinian cabinet members, 12 members of Parliament, representatives of Fateh and representatives of other Palestinian organizations, according to the report – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
