02/27/2009, 00.00
PALESTINE
Send to a friend

Hamas-Fatat agree on eve of donors’ conference

Palestinian factions agree to process that should lead to a national unity government. Thus aid for Gaza reconstruction should start flowing in. Israeli daily Haaretz writes that recent war benefited Hamas.

Cairo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Hamas and Fatah as well as smaller Palestinian factions have agreed to form five committees to address security issues and the formation of an election commission. This should lead to the formation of a national unity government (negotiators pictured). The committees are set to begin work 10 March and complete their work at the end of the month.

As a first sign of reconciliation, on the eve of the talks both sides have agreed to free their respective prisoners.

In November of last year Egypt had originally tried to promote intra-Palestinian reconciliation but failed when Hamas withdrew at the last minute, accusing Fatah of arresting its members in the West Bank.

The breakthrough came ahead of an international donor conference in Egypt that hopes to raise money for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip by Israel's 22-day war on the territory.

Western countries are among the donors but they have resisted helping Hamas, a movement deemed terrorist by the United States and Europe.

Hamas had however benefited from the war with Israel, this according to opinion polls in the territories reported by Israeli daily Haaretz. A probable exchange of abducted Israeli solider Gilad Shalit for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners should further boost its prestige.

In the Israeli army’s current review of its performance during the war, an encouraging picture is emerging in terms of its professionalism, control over units, aerial assistance to ground forces, quality of intelligence and logistics compared to war against Hizbollah.

However, at the diplomatic level the major damage Cast Lead did was in legitimising Hamas as the ruler of the Gaza Strip.

The paper notes that on the eve of a visit by the new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton instead of “coming to talk to Israel about the Iranian threat,” she “will focus on the problems of the Palestinians in Gaza. That might be the greatest damage of all.”

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Closed-door discussion in UN over war crimes in Gaza. Abbas in the eye of the storm
07/10/2009
Hamas and Fatah release prisoners, hope to rebuild Gaza
26/02/2009
Hamas: no pilgrimage to Mecca for faithful of Gaza Strip
03/12/2008
Palestinians used as human shields in Gaza, Israeli soldiers say
15/07/2009
Palestinians continue to back talks with Israel
07/05/2010


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”