The Palestinian consensus government formed by Fatah and Hamas last year resigned yesterday, disrupting efforts to reconcile the rivals.
Outgoing prime minister Rami Hamdallah was asked to nominate a cabinet of political figures by president Mahmoud Abbas. His adviser Nimr Hammad said consultations would involve various Palestinian factions, including Hamas.
Dissolution of the 17-member technocrat cabinet had been under discussion for months because of its inability to function in Gaza, which has been ruled by Hamas since 2007 when Fatah was expelled from the coastal strip after a week of clashes.
The decision, taken without consultation with the cabinet or Hamas, was announced by Mr Abbas during a meeting of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council.
Government spokesman Ihab Bseiso said he was unaware of the dissolution decision. “We had a meeting [Tuesday] and we didn’t discuss this issue.”
“Hamas rejects any one-sided change in the government without the agreement of all parties,” spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. He accused Fatah of acting unilaterally. “No one told us anything about any decision to change.”
Conciliatory
However, Hamas official Ziad al-Zada struck a more conciliatory tone, calling upon Mr Abbas to “form a unity government with all national and Islamic factions to face Israeli occupation”. The consensus government was originally meant to be a temporary body operating in Gaza and the West Bank until a “unity” government was appointed.
Mr Abbas's decision appears to have been designed to derail Qatari- and European-mediated talks between Hamas and Israel aimed at strengthening the ceasefire agreement that ended last year's 50-day war on Gaza.
These talks have focused on ending Israel’s blockade of Gaza and building a Gaza seaport as well as maintaining the ceasefire which has been endangered by recent exchanges of rockets between Gaza-based Islamic State elements and Israel.
Truce
Mr Abbas opposes separate talks between Hamas and Israel. A Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) source said these talks may have created “a different kind of status for Gaza” which would undermine the “idea of a Palestinian state” consisting of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Mr Abbas’s spokesman said a truce would be welcome but warned that it “must not have as its price a move away from the Palestinian national consensus” which demands unity.
Last year’s ceasefire talks were conducted by an umbrella delegation comprised of PLO politicians and non-PLO figures from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The team was headed by Fatah’s Azzam Ahmad, making it clear that the Fatah-dominated PLO and West Bank Palestinian Authority were in charge.
Gazans have been increasingly impatient with the authority which has failed to ensure Israel’s compliance with agreements for the delivery of construction materials.
