Hamas Dampens Western Hopes
Hisham Abu Taha, Arab News
GAZA CITY, 15 November 2006 — Hamas said yesterday that a new Palestinian unity government will not recognize Israel or accept a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict as demanded by Israel and the United States. In Amman, President Mahmoud Abbas denied reports that Mohammed Shabir has been chosen as the man to lead the unity government.
The Hamas stance could undercut Palestinian efforts to ease an eight-month-old Western economic boycott by forming a unity government more acceptable to the West.
The United States and its partners in the Quartet of Middle East mediators imposed the boycott to pressure Hamas, which took control of the Palestinian Authority in March, to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence and accept existing peace deals.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the program of the proposed unity government between Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah faction “will not recognize Israel and will not include accepting the two-state solution.”
“We reject the two-state solution, which is the vision of US President George Bush, because it represents a clear recognition of Israel,” Barhoum said. “Our position in this regard remains unchanged. We reject joining in any government that recognizes Israel.”
Moussa Abu Marzuk, the second in command of Hamas’ political wing based in Damascus, also confirmed the Hamas stance. He told Palestinian press agency Ramattan: “The next government was not asked to recognize Israel and it will not do so.”
“Why should Palestine, which is not yet a state, recognize Israel?” he asked.
Nevertheless he said Hamas, which has controlled the Palestinian government since March, would give up “11 or 12 portfolios” in a unity Cabinet which Fatah is set to join.
The United States and the European Union regard Hamas as a terrorist organization and have cut off direct aid to its administration. As a result, the Palestinian government has largely been unable to pay its 165,000 workers since April.
Abbas, who discussed with King Abdallah of Jordan the latest situation in Palestine, said several names had come up during discussions on who will head the new government, “but so far no decision has been made.”
Sources in Fatah and Hamas said Sunday they had agreed on Shabir, a clinical biologist and former president of the Islamic University, as the next premier.
Shabir is considered close to Hamas but he never joined the party. Abbas described Shabir as “a well-known figure” but stressed that names of other candidates were also being discussed, a Jordanian court statement said.
Meanwhile, the US State Department said yesterday the sponsors of the Middle East peace process will meet in Cairo today to discuss efforts to revive negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
US Middle East envoy David Welch will represent Washington at the meeting with his counterparts from Russia, the European Union and the United Nations — a grouping known as the Middle East Quartet, spokesman Sean McCormack said.
McCormack said the meeting did not signal a major initiative to break a months-long deadlock in peacemaking efforts but an opportunity to “take stock” of the situation.
He also said the meeting was arranged before last week’s US elections in which opposition Democrats took control of Congress and immediately pressed President George W. Bush to reinvigorate his Middle East diplomacy.
“A lot of developments, a lot of different things are going on in the Middle East. We all thought this was an appropriate time for the envoys to get together,” he said.
GAZA CITY, 15 November 2006 — Hamas said yesterday that a new Palestinian unity government will not recognize Israel or accept a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict as demanded by Israel and the United States. In Amman, President Mahmoud Abbas denied reports that Mohammed Shabir has been chosen as the man to lead the unity government.
The Hamas stance could undercut Palestinian efforts to ease an eight-month-old Western economic boycott by forming a unity government more acceptable to the West.
The United States and its partners in the Quartet of Middle East mediators imposed the boycott to pressure Hamas, which took control of the Palestinian Authority in March, to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence and accept existing peace deals.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the program of the proposed unity government between Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah faction “will not recognize Israel and will not include accepting the two-state solution.”
“We reject the two-state solution, which is the vision of US President George Bush, because it represents a clear recognition of Israel,” Barhoum said. “Our position in this regard remains unchanged. We reject joining in any government that recognizes Israel.”
Moussa Abu Marzuk, the second in command of Hamas’ political wing based in Damascus, also confirmed the Hamas stance. He told Palestinian press agency Ramattan: “The next government was not asked to recognize Israel and it will not do so.”
“Why should Palestine, which is not yet a state, recognize Israel?” he asked.
Nevertheless he said Hamas, which has controlled the Palestinian government since March, would give up “11 or 12 portfolios” in a unity Cabinet which Fatah is set to join.
The United States and the European Union regard Hamas as a terrorist organization and have cut off direct aid to its administration. As a result, the Palestinian government has largely been unable to pay its 165,000 workers since April.
Abbas, who discussed with King Abdallah of Jordan the latest situation in Palestine, said several names had come up during discussions on who will head the new government, “but so far no decision has been made.”
Sources in Fatah and Hamas said Sunday they had agreed on Shabir, a clinical biologist and former president of the Islamic University, as the next premier.
Shabir is considered close to Hamas but he never joined the party. Abbas described Shabir as “a well-known figure” but stressed that names of other candidates were also being discussed, a Jordanian court statement said.
Meanwhile, the US State Department said yesterday the sponsors of the Middle East peace process will meet in Cairo today to discuss efforts to revive negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
US Middle East envoy David Welch will represent Washington at the meeting with his counterparts from Russia, the European Union and the United Nations — a grouping known as the Middle East Quartet, spokesman Sean McCormack said.
McCormack said the meeting did not signal a major initiative to break a months-long deadlock in peacemaking efforts but an opportunity to “take stock” of the situation.
He also said the meeting was arranged before last week’s US elections in which opposition Democrats took control of Congress and immediately pressed President George W. Bush to reinvigorate his Middle East diplomacy.
“A lot of developments, a lot of different things are going on in the Middle East. We all thought this was an appropriate time for the envoys to get together,” he said.
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 1:34 AM
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