Hamas Cabinet resigns to bring Fatah into government

Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas has formed a new government with the moderate Fatah movement, but he faces unresolved internal disputes and a reported warning of a US boycott.

Yesterday, Haniyeh and his government resigned and President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah appointed him to form the new team, based on last week’s agreement in the Muslim holy city of Mecca to split power between the two rivals.

Mr Haniyeh has five weeks to put together a new Cabinet. During that period, Hamas and Fatah need to resolve deep disputes over control of the security forces and whether to dismantle a separate Hamas militia.

However, even if the coalition is formed, it appears increasingly unlikely it will win international backing. The new government’s political programme falls short of a key condition by the international community, explicit recognition of Israel. Instead, it contains a vague promise to “respect” international agreements, at best implying recognition.

Hamas is considered a terror group by the US, the EU and Israel, and the Hamas-led government was targeted by a crippling international aid boycott.

Aides of Mr Abbas said US officials made it clear Washington would boycott the emerging Palestinian government, including independent and Fatah Cabinet ministers. Mr Abbas, elected separately, would not be included in such a boycott, the aides said.

Speaking in Washington, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did not say the US would boycott the new government, though she said she had seen no evidence it intended to meet the international demands. Peace efforts were “obviously more complicated because of the uncertainties surrounding the national unity government,” she said.

However, Ms Rice said, she would reserve judgment until the government was formed. “Talking about recognising or not recognising the government” is premature, Ms Rice said. “There isn’t one yet. When there is one, the United States will make a determination.”

Ms Rice spoke ahead of a trip to the Middle East for a three-way summit with Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday.

Initially billed as a step toward resuming peace talks, frozen for more than six years, the summit will now likely be overshadowed by the disagreements over the Palestinian government.

In an interview on Palestinian TV, Mr Abbas told his people the boycott would not be lifted right away, but “we will fight and struggle, and we hope this can be accomplished soon, though there are still obstacles”.