Support for boycott of Palestinian authority fading fast

MIDDLE EAST:As the new Palestinian unity government met under prime minister Ismail Haniyeh yesterday to discuss ways to lift the financial embargo, international will to maintain the boycott dissipated.

Members of the Quartet comprising the US, UN, EU and Russia broke ranks with Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who flatly rejected the unity government, called upon the international community to maintain the boycott, and said he would limit contacts with President Mahmoud Abbas to resolving humanitarian issues.

But the US announced it would deal with Fatah ministers, a stance also adopted by Britain. Washington said, however, it would not resume financial aid. It is likely that London will follow suit.

Ireland and Spain called for unconditional restoration of rela- tions and Russia took a similar line. Syria and Egypt welcomed the new government and demanded an end to the boycott. Norwegian foreign minister Johan Gahr Stoere announced his country's lifting of sanctions and said the unity government was "taking important steps toward complying with international demands". The demands, laid down by the Quartet, require the government to recognise Israel, renounce violence, and accept previous agreements reached between the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Israel.

Welcoming the formation of the new government, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said: "In the coming days and weeks, the Government will work for a positive and creative response by the EU. We must be ready to work with President Abbas and with the new government, on the basis of an active commitment to a two-state solution."

During yesterday's cabinet meeting, Mr Abbas announced the appointment of Gaza strongman Muhammad Dahlan as his security adviser and put him in charge of combining the Fatahdominated security apparatus with Hamas's Executive Force militia in a national security organisation.

Mr Abbas also decreed the reinstatement of the national security council suspended after Hamas formed a government last March. By taking firm decisions on this front, Mr Abbas is demonstrating that violent behaviour by dissident elements and clans will no longer be tolerated.

However, the elevation of Mr Dahlan, who enjoys close relations with US and Egyptian intelligence, is controversial. While head of security in Gaza during the 1990s, he clamped down hard on Hamas. He has been accused of orchestrating recent Fatah attacks on Hamas which brought Palestinians to the brink of civil war.

The 25-member coalition cabinet was sworn in on Saturday after 83 legislators voted in favour to three opposed; 41 lawmakers imprisoned by Israel could not participate. Hamas holds 11 portfolios, Fatah six, Independents four and four small parties each have one.

Key posts were given to Independents and figures from the small parties who, if they combine with Fatah, can outvote Hamas. Former minister of finance Salam Fayad, of the Third Way, was restored to his post; Independent Hani Qawasmi was chosen for the interior ministry; Ziad Abu Amr, another Independent, was named foreign minister, and National Initiative chief Mustafa Barghouti was selected to be information minister.

The unity government has, essentially, met Quartet demands. Its programme states that its "main goal is to establish a Palestinian state in the territories occupied in 1967". By agreeing to such wording, Hamas has accepted the fact of Israel's existence within the borders of June 4th, 1967.

The unity programme says that the government "respects all agreements reached by the PLO and respects international legitimacy".

This amounts to explicit acceptance of the Quartet demand and reinforces the government's recognition of the Jewish state, which was conferred by the PLO in 1993.

While the government affirms the Palestinians' legal right, in principle, to "resist Israeli occupation" Hamas and Fatah are, in practice, bound by a long-term ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Mr Haniyeh pledged to expand this ceasefire to the West Bank, a move which, if implemented, could meet the Quartet demand for renunciation of violence.