GAZA: Palestinian Parliament to vote on unity government on March 17

After agreeing on the appointment of an Interior Minister, Palestinians remove a key obstacle to forming a unity government, which is expected to happen on Saturday (March 17). Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas agreed on Wednesday (March 14) to appoint an as yet unnamed person as interior minister. The agreement on the interior post, which oversees the security services, removed a key obstacle to forming a unity government. The new cabinet is expected to be unveiled on Thursday (March 15) and approved by the Palestinian parliament on Saturday (March 17). "I can confirm that all the procedure all the procedures all the consultations are now over and because we are ready now for a declaration of a national unity government. Today we have an agreement about all the names of the ministers including the minister of interior. Tomorrow I think that all the organizations and the factions, who join the government they will gave the name of the ministers to the Prime Minster and on Saturday there will be a meeting for the PLC, in order to give a programme to the government," Government spokesman Ghazi Hamad told reporters. The new cabinet line-up will be unveiled on Thursday, officials from both sides said. "It is good news for all the Palestinian people, in the nation, in the diaspora, for the families of the prisoners for the family of the martyrs for all the the Muslim and Arabic world and all those who are free and love in the world, we have concluded everything tonight and tomorrow God willing we will start on the constitution deliberations with the President and the Legislative Council," a smiling Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told reporters. Palestinians hope the deal will end fighting between secular Fatah and Hamas Islamists, as well as ease a crippling aid embargo of the Palestinian Authority, though it is unclear whether either goal will be accomplished. Nine people, including two children, were wounded in another bout of violence between Fatah and Hamas which erupted in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday night, local residents said. Israel has vowed to boycott the unity government, including non-Hamas ministers, unless it recognises the Jewish state, renounces violence and accepts interim peace deals as demanded by the Quartet of Middle East mediators. Washington has also made clear to Palestinian officials that the embargo will not be lifted until the three conditions are met. Ahmed Bahar of Hamas, who serves as acting parliamentary speaker, said Saturday's special session would begin at 11 a.m. (0900 GMT). Lawmakers will discuss the unity government's political platform and hold a vote of confidence, he said. The unity government agreement contains a vague promise to "respect" previous Israeli-Palestinian pacts. It does not commit the incoming government to abide by those pacts, nor to recognise Israel and renounce violence as demanded by Quartet partners the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

ITN Source | March 15, 2007

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