Palestine talks are suspended in latest setback

AN AIDE to President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday said talks on forming a Palestinian unity government have been suspended, the latest setback in drawn-out efforts by the rival Hamas and Fatah movements to establish a coalition acceptable to the West.

Abbas has been pushing Hamas to enter a unity government in hopes of ending an international aid boycott against the Palestinian government. The sanctions were imposed after Hamas defeated the more moderate Fatah in legislative elections early this year, putting the Islamic militant group in control of the Palestinian parliament and Cabinet while the moderate Abbas stayed as president.

Participants had reported progress in recent days and the sides agreed on a candidate for prime minister.

But Abbas aide Nabil Amr said the talks had reached a standstill. “What we have agreed upon is only the first mile over the 1,000-mile road,” he said.

Abbas has met repeatedly over the last week with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to discuss the distribution of government portfolios between their parties.

Hamas officials have denied any serious trouble, raising the possibility that Fatah had stepped away as a negotiating tactic.

“I want to reassure our people that the negotiations are continuing and they have not been halted,” Haniyeh said.