Implementing Palestinian reconciliation pact still elusive
- By Omer Othmani, Emad Drimly
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Xinhua, August 10, 2011
During a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party and the Islamic Hamas movement in Cairo this week, leaders of the two rival groups renewed their commitment to resolve outstanding issues related to the implementation of an Egyptian-brokered pact of reconciliation signed in May, including releasing political detainees, issuing Palestinian passports in Gaza, ending media incitement and treating the social disputes.
Observers in Gaza said that agreeing to resolve those four outstanding issues would create a positive atmosphere for the success in implementing the reconciliation agreement, but the rivals haven't tackled the major outstanding issue, the formation of the transitional unity government.
Gaza-based political analyst Hani Habib said that focusing on marginal issues while leaving basic issues, such as forming the unity government and preparing the general elections, "is an indication that the two sides aren't interested to finalize the reconciliation and aren't frank to the public."
Basic issues unresolved
The formation of a transitional government and the nomination of its prime minister, in addition to the reform of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the preparation for the general elections and the rebuilding of security apparatuses, are the major outstanding issues that haven't been resolved yet.
"The delay over the past two months in implementing the reconciliation pact after it was signed, and then the delay in resolving the major outstanding issues, is again showing that there are no real intentions and serious will to implement the agreement," Habib told Xinhua.
The two groups signed the deal in Cairo in accordance with all the Palestinian factions. However, when the two rivals agreed to start the implementation of the pact, they immediately disagreed on the formation of the government, mainly the nomination of Salam Fayyad as the premier.
Signing the agreement had brought a great optimism among the population. However, the people were disappointed after the two rivals disagreed on the basic issues because such a matter would keep the situation of division between Gaza and the West Bank as it is.
"It has become clear that there are private agendas and personal interests behind not reaching an agreement on all the issues. The rivals are disregarding the national interests of the Palestinian people," said Habib, adding that "reconciliation is more important than anything else in this period of time."
