Palestinians move to end political rift

7 Feb 2012, 7:54 am   -   Source: AAP
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The Palestinians have been divided between rival governments since Hamas ousted forces loyal to Abbas from Gaza in 2007. (AAP)

The Palestinians have been divided between rival governments since Hamas ousted forces loyal to Abbas from Gaza in 2007. (AAP)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reached a deal with Hamas to head an interim unity government before elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has taken a decisive step toward reconciliation with the Islamic militant Hamas, agreeing to head an interim unity government that will prepare for elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The announcement immediately threw Mideast peace efforts into turmoil. By moving closer to Hamas, the Palestinian leader appeared to be closing the door, for now, to any possibility of peace talks with Israel - although all such efforts have failed to get off the ground during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's three years in office.

Netanyahu condemned Monday's deal, saying it would be impossible to reach peace with a government that includes Hamas, which Israel and the West consider a terrorist group.

"It is either peace with Hamas or peace with Israel. You can't have them both," Netanyahu said.

A new attempt to restart low-level talks last month ended without a breakthrough. With the reconciliation deal, Abbas appears to have concluded that he has a better chance of repairing the Palestinians' internal troubles than of reaching an agreement with the hardline Israeli leader.

The Palestinians have been divided between rival governments since Hamas ousted forces loyal to Abbas from Gaza in 2007.

Monday's agreement, brokered by Qatar, seemed to bring reconciliation within reach for the first time. Previous deals have collapsed amid deep suspicions and intervention by the sides' rival foreign patrons. Abbas is backed by the West while Hamas has been supported by Iran.

Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal said they would move forward without delay, though it appears unlikely elections can be held in May, as initially envisioned.

The two Palestinian leaders had reached a reconciliation deal last year, but disagreement over who was to head an interim government had delayed implementation. Hamas strongly opposed Abbas's choice of Salam Fayyad, the head of his Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

It remains unclear whether an Abbas-led interim government that is supported by Hamas would be acceptable to the West, which gives hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to the Palestinians each year.

The United States and Europe have said they would shun any government that includes members of an unreformed Hamas.

Still, Abbas has international backing and Monday's agreement said all cabinet ministers would be politically independent technocrats.

Western support would likely depend on whether Abbas, as prime minister of the interim government, can impose his internationally backed political platform and whether Hamas will agree to stay in the background.

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