Unity cabinet holds first session
Israel’s Ehud Olmert urges boycott of new Palestinian unity government.
“All issues will be presented before the security council in order to determine solutions,” Abu Rdainah said.
The decree also appointed Mohammad Dahlan, a powerful Fatah leader who led a crackdown on Hamas in the 1990s, as national security adviser.
In recent months, Hamas activists have accused Dahlan of trying to assassinate Haniya and of unofficially commanding pro-Fatah forces in the factional fighting.
“We are ready to forget the past, but we will be looking to the future and everybody is going to face the test,” Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said of Dahlan.
Israel has refused to talk to the coalition, saying it fails to meet international demands – renouncing violence, recognising Israel and honouring past peace deals.
Your Views |
“This is just a ploy to regain international hand-outs with smoke and mirrors” LeotheIsaurian, Detroit, US |
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, on Sunday called on the international community to join Israel in shunning the new government, saying: “The platform of the new government includes very problematic elements.”
The cabinet endorsed Olmert’s position by 19 votes to two, Israeli radio stations reported.
Russia and France have also indicated a willingness to work with the Fatah-Hamas coalition.
Mohammad Dahlan, right, led a crackdown on Hamas fighters during the 1990s [EPA] |
However, Israel has called on the Quartet group – the US, EU, UN and Russia – to maintain its sanctions, which were imposed on the Palestinian Authority one year ago after the election of a Hamas government.
“The national unity government’s platform reference to the right of resistance is disturbing and contradicts the Quartet principles of renunciation of violence,” Nancy Beck, a US state department spokeswoman, said.
He urged Israel to co-operate with the new government, saying there was a new opportunity to establish co-operative ties. Speaking to Israel Radio, he dismissed the calls for formal recognition of Israel as “semantics”.
Ahead of the first cabinet meeting on Sunday the new ministers were in optimistic mood.
In detail |
“Its the first national unity government in the history of the Palestinian people,” Mustapha Barghouti, information minister, told Al Jazeera.