Abbas asks Hamas to form government

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas today asked Hamas to form the next Palestinian government as quickly as possible, offering his help and encouragement to the Islamic militants.

Abbas spoke at the opening session of the new Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament, after the new legislators were sworn in.

He said the Hamas victory in last month’s parliament election – and the defeat of his Fatah Party – have led to a new political reality. “Therefore, it (Hamas) will be asked to form the new government,” Abbas said.

“On my part, you will find all the cooperation and encouragement you need, because our national interest is our first and final goal, and is above any individual faction.”

The next step would be for Hamas to name its candidate for prime minister. Hamas said its choice is the group’s pragmatic Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh, who in the past served as a liaison between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Israel and the international community have said they will not recognise a Hamas government if the group – sworn to Israel’s destruction – does not renounce violence, recognise Israel and honour existing peace agreements.

Abbas will have to decide whether to confront the powerful Islamic group and demand that it support peace moves with Israel, or cooperate with Hamas. The latter could turn the Palestinian Authority into an international pariah and destroy any hopes for new peace talks with Israel.

Mahmoud Zahar, a fiery Hamas leader newly elected to serve in parliament, called today a “historic day”, and said Hamas would serve the Palestinian people.

The parliament session was being held simultaneously in Gaza City and in the West Bank city of Ramallah, with a hook-up by videoconference, because Israel has prevented lawmakers from travelling between the two territories.

In Ramallah, Hamas lawmakers entered the main hall in Abbas’ headquarters in a group, one carrying a picture of jailed lawmaker Hassan Yousef. The group’s female lawmakers covered their heads in traditional Muslim fashion.

A member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine placed a picture of jailed lawmaker, Ahmed Saadat on a chair in the hall. A group of foreign diplomats, including the US consul in Jerusalem, also attended the Ramallah session.

In Gaza, some 2,000 diplomats and other VIPs gathered in the government complex to view the parliament session, along with about 100 women from the Hamas Women’s Union, their faces covered with veils.

Israel, the US and the European Union, which provide funding for a majority of the Palestinian Authority’s budget, have threatened to sever financial ties with the government if Hamas does not meet their demands. Hamas is branded a terrorist group by the US and Europe.

Israel was also considering a basket of sanctions against the Palestinian Authority, and its Cabinet will vote on Sunday on measures meant to put a stranglehold on the Hamas parliament.

Hamas’ landslide victory in last month’s parliamentary elections was mostly the result of Palestinian anger and frustration with the corruption-riddled Fatah Party, which had dominated Palestinian life for more than four decades.

The 132-member legislature comprises 74 Hamas lawmakers and 45 from Fatah. The rest of the parliament is made up of independents and representatives of smaller parties.

After Abbas officially taps Hamas, the militant group will have five weeks to form the next Cabinet.

Hamas officials have said they would nominate Ismail Haniyeh, a relative moderate by Hamas standards, to be next prime minister. But the 46-year-old Haniyeh insisted Friday that a final decision on the new premier had not been made.