Abbas, Haniyeh Discuss Unity Government in Gaza

Talk about Dissolving PNA Is Not Proper, Says Palestinian President

August 15, 2006

Palestine Media Center – PMC

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has warned against an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip after announcing the ceasefire in Lebanon Monday, ahead of scheduled talks between President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City on Tuesday over forming a new national unity government.

Abbas’ adviser Nimr Hamad said the president would try to persuade the ruling Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” and other anti-Israeli occupation factions to stop firing primitive home-made rockets at Israeli targets from the Gaza Strip and to release Cpl. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured on June 25.

Abbas on Saturday dismissed concerns raised by Haniyeh over the future of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and called for the creation of a national unity government.

Last week Haniyeh openly questioned the feasibility of continuing with the PNA.

The Israeli war on Gaza Strip since June 25, the international economic, diplomatic and financial siege imposed on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) since January 25, the kidnapping of Palestinian cabinet ministers and lawmakers and the ongoing Israeli destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, all overshadowed by Israel’s war on Lebanon, have raised the prospect of dissolving the PNA.

The donors froze aid to the PNA since Hamas won January 25 elections, which left the PNA virtually penniless.

“At the first possible opportunity we must strive to set up a government of national unity,” Abbas told reporters in Jordan when asked to comment about remarks made by Haniyeh.

Abbas said that any talk about dissolving the PNA “is not proper.”

“We have a Palestinian agreement called the national accord, which stipulates a national unity government and this is a firm principle,” Abbas said. Creation of a Palestinian national unity government has been delayed by the Israeli offensive on Gaza and the situation in Lebanon, he added.

“At the first possible opportunity we must strive to set up a government of national unity,” Abbas told reporters in Amman ahead of returning to the West Bank at the end of an Arab tour.

Abbas received Monday in the West Bank town of Ramallah the envoy of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Lord Levy, the British General Consul in Jerusalem, John Jenkins, and the French Consul General in Jerusalem, Alain Rémy and the Chargé d'Affaires of the French Consul General in Jerusalem.

On Sunday he received in Ramallah the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the EU Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Marc Otté and urged European involvement in reactivating Palestinian – Israeli negotiations.

The latest developments in the region, specially the situation in Gaza, the necessity to reopen Rafah Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and reaching a Palestinian – Israeli ceasefire, were also discussed during the meeting, according to the official news agency WAFA.

Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department, Saeb Erakat, told a joint press conference with Solana the meeting also discussed the “almost forgotten (Israeli) war on Gaza” and the situation in Lebanon and the possibility of a PNA-Israel ceasefire.

During a separate meeting with Solana the same day in Jericho, Erakat called on the European Union (EU) to launch a comprehensive political process to lay the foundations of a lasting comprehensive solution in the Middle East.

Solana stressed the international community and the European Union (EU)'s support to President Abbas, pointing out the Palestinian cause is the basis of conflict in the Middle East.

Speaking to the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, Haniyeh said his government has “no qualms about negotiating with Israel,” and is ready to enter into a long-term truce involving all Palestinian factions.

Separately he told a Palestinian cabinet meeting in Gaza Monday that an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip was a serious threat after announcing the ceasefire in Lebanon, which took effect at 8:00 am Monday and seemed holding on Tuesday. He cited as motive Israel's desire to score imaginary victories and achievements at the expense of the unarmed Palestinian people after its inconclusive military offensive in Lebanon.

The spokesman for the Palestinian government, Ghazi Hamad, told reporters that ending the Israeli onslaught, which began on June 26, and the release of more than 60 Palestinian cabinet ministers and lawmakers who were kidnapped by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) were essential for a national unity government to function. He urged the international community to intervene.

“Even if we change the government today and the circumstances remain as they are, how feasible is that? The problem is not in the make-up of the Palestinian government, but in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and its actions which aim to destroy any meaningful Palestinian effort to build an independent Palestinian state,” Hamad said.

Referring to Haniyeh’s questioning of the existance of the PNA last week, Hamad said:

“The declaration by the Prime Minister is an attempt to draw the international community's attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people and their government, The matter requires international intervention, especially given that the legitimacy of the election of Hamas was confirmed by international observers.”

The PNA Hamas-led government said on Monday that it was studying the implications of the Hizbullah victory in Lebanon and warned that the presence of IOF soldiers in southern Lebanon would lead to more violence.

“The conflict could resume and even deteriorate into a regional war,” said PNA Information Minister, Yusef Rizkah, adding: “The war has taught us that resistance should be a key factor in resolving the problems of Lebanon and Palestine.”

“If anything, this war has shattered the myth of the invincible [Israeli] army and [shown] that the Israelis are unable to confront the strong determination and will of Muslim fighters,” Rizkah said.