RAMALLAH, Feb 28 (JMCC) - Palestinian faction
Fateh has denounced a proposal fielded by
Salam Fayyad that the new Palestinian cabinet include
Hamas,
reports Gulf News.
In an interview with Gulf News, Jamal Muhaisen, a Member of the Fatah Central Committee, said Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad, assigned by President Mahmoud Abbas to form a new cabinet, has not consulted Fatah or the Palestinian Authority in offering to bring Hamas onboard a unity government while it is allowed to retain its control over the Gaza costal strip.
Dr. Fayyad has not consulted us. And we strictly refuse any type of unity or temporary government with Hamas before reconciliation is achieved. It will never be a fact on the ground, Muhaisen said.
We will share a government with Hamas only after we get together and end the dispute, he added.
We believe Hamas has occupied Gaza illegally and, under such circumstances, how can we form a unity government with them? he said. Under the prevailing scenario it is not possible in any way. The priority should be reconciliation.
Muhaisen said a temporary government with Hamas was possible only after internal reconciliation, where such a government would run both the West Bank and Gaza Strip until the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Fayyad has held numerous meetings with members of Palestinian civil society in the two weeks since his cabinet resigned.
Monday was to be the deadline for submitting the names of new ministers to President
Mahmoud Abbas, but numerous sources said that longer deliberations would be needed.