MIDDLE EAST: Cautious optimism on both sides of spectrum over Palestinian unity government

Analysts on both sides of the spectrum expressed cautious optimism over the fate of a Palestinian unity government whose platform fell short of international demands for lifting sanctions. On the streets of Gaza, where internal strife and fighting with Israel intensified since Israel's withdrawal last year, residents expressed mixed feelings over the fate of the new government. Some were hopeful the new government would restore internal calm and would ease a western economic blockade on the Hamas led government. "If the unity government is formed with all factions representing all Palestinians, surely the siege on the Palestinian government will be broken," Fadi Adwan, resident of Gaza, said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reached a deal with Hamas on Monday (September 11) that said it would never recognise Israel and that it had a right to pursue armed struggle against the Jewish state, raising immediate questions over whether a unity coalition would satisfy western demands for lifting sanctions. Palestinians hope the creation of a unity administration will lead to the lifting of a Western aid embargo imposed after Hamas took power in March after a surprising win over Abbas' Fatah movement in January elections. "What is expected from this government is a lot, whether concerning the nation and concerning the people. But definitely the unity of the Palestinian people meets the minimum requirements to face all the challenges, inside and outside," said Doctor Waleed Elbdalal. The Hamas administration has come in for increasing criticism and faced strikes throughout the Palestinian territories by workers angered at the non-payment of salaries for the past six months. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said on Tuesday (September 12) the government's guidelines would be based on a document the Islamists and Abbas agreed in June, which fell short of western and Israeli demands. That document stemmed from a manifesto drafted by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails which hinted at recognition of Israel by calling for a Palestinian state on land captured by the Jewish state in the 1967 Middle East war. Washington does not want to lift international sanctions until the government recognises Israel, renounces violence and abides by interim peace deals, the three conditions set by the Quartet of Middle East mediators, diplomats said. But at least some in the European Union are signalling a willingness to settle for less from the administration that Hamas Islamist militants and moderate President Mahmoud Abbas agreed on Monday to begin putting together, they said. Israeli analyst and columnist Danny Rubenstein said Israel's approach would depend on the basis of the political platform, reiterating Israel's sense of scepticism along the political spectrum. "Israel I would guess would take the hard line. It would say we want a clear declaration of this government, a clear platform that they accept, that they agree the three demands of the Quartet. I don't see it happens so I am positive about the possibility to have this government but I am quite negative about what happens afterwards," Rubenstein said. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had said what mattered was whether the unity government met the West's three conditions for restoring aid. She urged the international community not to waver in demanding acceptance of those terms. Palestinian Political Science Professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Naji Shihab, said he too was waiting for an outline of the political platform of the new government which had yet to overcome several challenges. "There are many challenges facing the forming of this government," Shihab said. "This government needs a political programme to be clear concerning the international legitimacy, concerning violence, concerning the commitments of the previous government. So I think there is much to do to form this government," Shihab added. Abbas would decree the existing Hamas-led government a caretaker administration within 48 hours, an aide said. Hamas officials said they wanted Haniyeh to head the unity cabinet. "We hope that God will make them successful in their unity and their coming together," a resident of Gaza, Khaled El-Jadidi, said.

ITN Source | September 12, 2006

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