Gazans run a marathon to call for Fatah-Hamas reconciliation.
Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas ended a fourth round of reconciliation talks without success yesterday. They agreed, however, to convene one more time to try to reach an accord that would allow the formation of a unity governing structure before the planned elections in 2010. The host of the talks, Egypt, set May 15 as the new deadline for reaching an agreement.Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas leader based in Damascus, said:
We cannot just talk for the sake of talking. To continue without results is a disaster on the national level.The critical issues that are leaving Hamas governing Gaza separately from Fatah rule in the West Bank include: the "terms for a unity government, a formula for holding new Palestinian legislative and presidential elections, and security arrangements." There is also disagreement over whether or not the unity government would observe past agreements with Israel.
Fatah's position has been to insist on a unity government that will satisfy the the so-called quartet of Middle East peace makers — the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. The unity government must recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce all violence and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements -- positions Hamas finds untenable given Israel's strict non-recognition of the party.
Abu Marzouk called these conditions "putting the cart in front of the horse" and "political blackmail by Israel." Not everyone agreed. "The talks achieved tangible progress" on some issues, according to Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmed.
An agreement on unity is vital. It would free up 4.5 billion dollars in aid to help rebuild Gaza after Israel's 22-day war onslaught in December and January, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and left swathes of the enclave in ruins.
Abbas May Call for New Transitional Authority
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will form a new government before his trip to meet with US President Barack Obama, despite the stall in Hamas-Fatah talks. Sources told Ma’an News Agency that the transitional government would dissolve for any unity government resulting from the factional talks.
Senior Palestinian sources had earlier revealed that Abbas would ask Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad to form the provisional government to include other factions from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), in which Hamas is not a member. Sources in Fayyad's office indicated that forming a new government "doesn't mean that the inter-reconciliation dialogue has stopped."
This plan follows an Egyptian proposal suggesting that Hamas be excluded from the transitional government. Hamas would serve on a committee to advise Abbas and the transitional government. "Now all the concentration is on the Egyptian proposal, which says that... any government formed by President Abbas will conduct the contacts with the international community," Nabil Shaath, Fatah's negotiator, said.
Hamas responded that any new government formed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and not approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) would be illegal. Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said, "Forming a government without coordination with Hamas movement through the legal establishment will be an outcome of the current situation and a devotion of the rift between Gaza and the West Bank."
Inter-Party Arrests Continue
According to Hamas, Palestinian security forces under the control of the Palestinian Authority arrested more than 13 members of Islamic movement over the past 24 hours -- during and in the aftermath of the breakdown in talks -- in the West Bank. Hamas said most of detainees were former prisoners held in Israeli jails, students and academics. Hamas and Fatah have been exchanging arrests against their political dissidents since Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007.
Abbas Tour Planned
Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rdeineh said President Abbas will begin a tour of Arab states on Sunday starting with Jordan. They will discuss tactics to achieve a national dialogue, the ending the Gaza blockade and dealing with new Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in advance of meetings with Obama.
Abbas already met with Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Arabia's leadership in preparation for his meetings and the creation of a new government.
HEADLINES
Jimmy Carter: US and Syria to restore full diplomatic ties soon (Ha'aretz)
Abbas Rejects Calling Israel a Jewish State (New York Times)
Obama's Stance On Hamas Worries Israel (CBS News)
Obama tells Israel ‘Happy 61st' (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
AIPAC policy conference to push Iran bills (JTA)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Palestinian to break world record for longest term in custody (Ma'an News Agency)
Palestinian prisoners' families protest at Red Cross (International Solidarity Movement)
Fayyad government: Expansion of Ma'ale Adumim could cause 'explosion' (Ma'an News Agency)
UNICEF and ECHO help West Bank children on deal with daily stress (UNICEF)
New route for wall through Bil'in still seizes Palestinian land (Mondoweiss)
Muslims are cool to pope's Holy Land pilgrimage (The Associated Press)
Muslim calligrapher writes Gospel of Luke for pope (USA Today)
Jewish Colonizers Bulldoze 200 Dunoms in Salfit (WAFA - Palestine News Agency)
Hamas leader visits Palestinians stranded on Iraq-Syria border (Ma'an News Agency)
Abbas' sons repair roads and US public image (Menassat)
Israel
Netanyahu: Israel to do all in its power to bring Shalit home (Ha'aretz)
Israel marks Independence Day without peace (The Associated Press)
Israel Launches First Solar-Run Community (The Media Line)
Mexico complains to Israel about Litzman's new name for swine flu (Jerusalem Post)
Israel deems 'swine flu' kosher after all (AFP)
The Neighbors
Report: 3 Lebanon men admit spying on Hezbollah for Israel (Ha'aretz)
Mubarak congratulates Israel on Independence Day (Ynetnews)
Egypt puts the bite on Gaza tunnel smugglers (Reuters)
Experts say Turkey-Syria deal not Israel threat (Hürriyet)
Turkish army chief rejects Israeli criticism (AFP)
Jordan's King Warns Of Iranian Expansion (Philadelphia Bulletin)
Iran 'a master chess player' in nuclear talks: Israel (AFP)
Larijani Calls for Just Solution to Palestinian Issue (Fars News Agency)
US allies in 'rivalry' with Iran (Aljazeera.net)
International Relations/Law
Iran and Venezuela working to strengthen military ties (Ha'aretz)
EU states differ on Israel relations (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israel Recalls Ambassador To Switzerland (Balt. Jewish Times)
Arts
Palestinian-American Artist Paints his Spiritual Heritage (The Day)
'Lemon Tree': Bitter And Sweet On Israel's Border (NPR)
Misc.
Harman hires Lanny Davis (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Rioter at Israel-Sweden tennis match in Malmo sent to prison (Ha'aretz)
Commentary
Katya Adler: Is Israel heading for clash with US? (BBC News)
Ghassan Khatib : A Palestinian View: Change meets challenge (Israel Policy Forum)
Madame Secretary: Hillary on Israel (Foreign Policy)
Paul Woodward: Easing some of the obstacles to Palestinian unity (War in Context)
Stephen Walt: The treason of the hawks (Foreign Policy)
Isabelle Humphries: Racism, boycott and a big dose of hypocrisy (Electronic Intifada)
Antony Lerman: Israel-Palestine is already a de facto single state (guardian.co.uk)
Tom Fenton: What Tamils and Palestinians have in common (A Pakistan News)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
