Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

    RAMALLAH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A lawmaker from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement on Wednesday termed the governance of the ruling Hamas movement as a failure and called for a change in the Palestinian political prospect.

    "Hamas and its government have failed to meet minimum needs of the people while they still abide by unrealistic factional slogans," Eissa Qaraqe told the Voice of Palestine.

    "It is time to make changes in the Palestinian political prospect," he said.

    Qaraqe also warned against a possible Hamas retreat from an agreement with Abbas on forming a national unity government, saying "there are many discussions over precautions against what is happening on the ground."

    "We are awaiting Abbas to come back from New York and will find solutions if Hamas keeps its stance," he said.

    After months of on-and-off talks, Abbas and Prime Minister Is mail Haneya announced an accord last week to form a coalition government, which is to be led by Haneya.

    The move was seen as an effort to end international isolation and the West's aid blockade of the Hamas-led government.

    According to the deal, incumbent Hamas-led government will be dismissed and replaced with a coalition government consisting of at least Hamas and Fatah, the biggest Palestinian faction. Before heading to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, Abbas has suspended talks on forming a new government until his return.

    A spokesman for Fatah legislators threatened on Wednesday to seek a no-confidence vote against the Hamas-led government if it did not resign to pave the way for the formation of the proposed coalition government.

    However, a spokesman for Hamas lawmakers said the Fatah parliamentary bloc can not topple the government.

    "Practically, Fatah needs 67 votes to pass the vote, but they only have 42 members," said Salah Bardaweel, spokesman for Hamas legislators.

    He said that even if Fatah allied with independent lawmakers and smaller blocs, they could only get 51 votes.

    Hamas has 70 seats in the parliament, but nearly 30 of them have been taken hostage by Israel in response to kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants in late June. Enditem