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Hamas Likely to Govern Alone, Open to Peace With Israel
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Al-Zahar was expected to be appointed foreign minister in the new Palestinian cabinet. (Reuters)
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GAZA,
March 17, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – It became
almost certain Friday, March 17, that the Islamic resistance group
Hamas would rule alone after Fatah declared its rejection to join a
national unity government with Hamas planning to finalize its cabinet
Saturday, as its PM-designate reiterated the group's hope to reach
peace with Israel.
"The
government will be ready tomorrow with its formation and its ministers
but we will not announce the government before we hand it over to the
president," Reuters quoted Hamas spokesman Salah Al-Bardaweel as
saying.
Bardaweel
said "only some independents and a Christian will be joining the
new cabinet", according to Agence France–Presse (AFP).
"Foreign
affairs, interior, finance and education portfolios will all go to
Hamas," another party official told AFP, on condition of
anonymity.
Hamas
sources said Mahmoud Al-Zahar was expected to be appointed foreign
minister.
Another
Hamas leader, Saeed Seyam, will reportedly become interior minister,
giving him control over three Palestinian security agencies, the
sources added.
Hamas
is expected to submit the list of cabinet members to Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas when he visits Gaza for talks Saturday, March
17.
The
resistance group, which swept the January Palestinian elections, has
failed to agree with other Palestinian factions on forming a national
unity government.
The
Fatah group said the movement's ruling Central Committee decided late
Thursday, March 16, not to join a Hamas-led government.
Western
diplomatic sources said Monday, March 13, that the Bush administration
had warned the Palestinian Fatah movement and other parties of strict
restrictions on contacts and assistance if they joined a Hamas-led
government.
Khalil
Abu Lila, member of Hamas’s politburo, told IOL that a new
government of technocrats was ready and only waited the go-ahead from
the Palestinian President to announce it if other Palestinian parties
remain adamant to join a coalition government.
Ready
for Peace
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"We are not bloodthirsty people. We want to stop the bloodshed," Haniya said. (Reuters)
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Meanwhile,
Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniya, a Hamas prominent
leader, said his group hoped to reach peace with Israel, AFP reported.
Asked
in a television interview with CBS News if he could imagine a day when
he would be asked to come to the White House to sign a peace accord
with Israel, Haniya said replied: "Let's hope so."
Haniya,
a pragmatist who led the "Change and Reform" list of Hamas
candidates to the January stunning victory, has been officially asked
by the Palestinian President to form the new government.
The
United States and European Union have threatened to cut off aid to the
Palestinian Authority unless Hamas disarms, "renounces
violence" and recognizes Israel.
Asked
what Hamas would require to renounce violence and recognize Israel,
Haniya said Israel must first recognize the rights of the Palestinian
people.
"That
depends on Israel's recognition of a Palestinian state within the
boundaries of Gaza, the West Bank, and Al-Quds (Occupied East
Jerusalem)," he said.
"Only
then can there be room for talks."
The
Palestinian PM-designate was asked what he would say if one of his
children told him he wanted to be a martyr.
"We
are not bloodthirsty people. We want to stop the bloodshed,"
Haniya replied.
"I've
never sent anyone on a suicide mission," he said.
"If
one of my sons came to me and asked me that, I wouldn't even consider
giving him my blessing."
Haniya
had told the Washington Post in February that Hamas did not
harbor animosity towards Jews and could establish "peace in
stages" with Israel if the latter withdraws to its 1967 borders
and recognizes the inalienable rights of the Palestinians.
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