Special
report: Internal situation in
Palestine
GAZA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for the
Hamas-led Palestinian government said on Tuesday that the European Union (EU)
and Arab nations had promised to support the new national unity government when
it is formed.
Calling the news as "good and assuring," government
spokesman Ghazi Hamad said that it would be the beginning of breaking the siege
on the Palestinian people.
He disclosed that the new coalition government would
be announced in a short period.
"Although it has not been confirmed whether all
Palestinian factions would join the new government, the talks between
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the factions indicate seriousness,"
Hamad told local radio "Voice of Palestine".
On Monday, Abbas and Hamas agreed on a new moderate
political program, which called for forming a new national unity coalition
government to replace the incumbent Hamas-led government. As for the formation
of new coalition government, the spokesman said that the ministers would come
from Hamas, Fatah and Palestinian private sectors.
However, he dismissed the reports saying that the
names and portfolios of the new government have been decided. So far only
incumbent Prime Minister Ismail Haneya had been nominated as the prime minister
of the coming government, said Hamad.
Mustafa Barghouti, a well-known lawmaker representing
the National Initiative party, welcomed the agreement on the coalition
government in an interview with "Voice of Palestine," saying that the new
government could establish a united Palestinian leadership for the first time in
years.
Barghouti voiced hope that the new government would
be able to break the siege imposed on the Palestinians by accepting the Arab
peace initiative and formulating it as a Palestinian political model.
Earlier, Abbas called on the international community
to lift the siege on the Palestinian people.
"We call on the entire world to lift the blockade, so
our people would find their daily food," said Abbas after meeting with Haneya
and leaders of Palestinian factions.
Abbas termed the siege as "oppressive and
unjustifiable," saying that the Palestinian people have suffered a lot. The
United States and the European Union, major donors of the Palestinian
government, cut off the direct aid to the Palestinians after Hamas took power in
late March following its landslide victory in the legislative elections in
January. The West conditioned the aid on recognizing Israel, accepting all
signed international agreements and condemnation of violence, which have been
rejected by Hamas. Enditem
(2006-09-12 03:11:25)
GAZA, Sept.
11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the ruling Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas) reached on Monday a long-awaited deal on a national
coalition government. Full Story>>
(2006-09-11 21:13:01)
GAZA, Sept.
11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would issue a presidential
decree on forming a national unity coalition government to replace the incumbent
Hamas-led one within 48 hours, an official source said Monday. Full Story>>
(2006-09-11 19:52:39)
GAZA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian leader
Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that an agreement was reached with the ruling Hamas
movement to form a coalition government. Full Story>>
More Related Stories
>>>
