Hamas, Fatah mull joint government

Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmed said he signed the Egyptian-mediated agreement with Moussa Abu Marzouq, deputy of Hamas Political Bureau chief Khaled Meshaal, in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Sunday.

“We signed… an agreement stipulating that the electoral commission will start its work on May 27 in the Gaza Strip and to launch consultations to set up a government of independents.”

Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation deal on May 4, 2011, which provides for the creation of a joint caretaker Palestinian government.

The creation of such a Palestinian government has been stalled over the past months due to several issues, mainly the position of prime minister.

On February 5, Khaled Meshaal and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, who also serves as the acting Palestinian Authority chief, discussed the formation of a Palestinian unity government during a meeting in the Qatari capital, Doha. Palestinian officials said Hamas agreed to a Qatari proposal that recommended Abbas as the prime minister of the future unity government.

On May 16, a new government in the West Bank was sworn in, in the presence of Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum, however, said the formation of the new government was “wrong.”

“This policy will not benefit the Palestinian people, because this government is not the choice of the Palestinian people and it does not have the support of the Palestinian Legislative Council.”

Barhoum also stated that Fatah officials “are avoiding the Doha announcement” with the formation of the new West Bank government.

HSN/MA/HJL

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