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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Unprecedented debate within Fatah over "expanded" Paleogov
2009-05-22
An unprecedented debate has broke out within Fatah Movement, after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tasked Salam Fayyad with the formation of an "expanded" government and securing an agreement to end divisions between the two mainstream factions, Fatah and Hamas.
There's a lot being said here but I can't read properly between the lines. At least as far as I can tell, there have been any weapons drawn...yet.
Does this mean the gentleman is not a powerless figurehead after all?
He might consider wearing his steel-toed shoes the next few days ...
Debate grew over the formation of this government and the timing of the fifth round of talks in Cairo -- which had not succeeded in ending differences between Hamas and Fatah -- and its impact on internal dialogue.

The stance of Fatah and Hamas blocs in the parliament did agree, however, in their rejection of the "expanded" government, despite the fact that political tensions between them had prevented the parliament from convening for quite a while.

Fatah's parliamentary bloc attributes its stance to the fact that Fayyad overlooked the bloc during consultations he held to form this government, where he limited his deliberations to members of Fatah Movement -- some of whom took part, while two representatives apologized in honor of the bloc's stance.
Fatah MP, Jamal Abu-Alrab, told KUNA that the bloc respected the decision of President Abbas, but rejected appointing an independent figure as head of the government, in which factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were taking part.

He explained that the Fatah parliamentary bloc refused to join the government because it was not consulted and was overlooked by the premier, but stressed that this move did in any way carry any personal reasons.

[Fatah media spokesman Khalid]Abu-Aziz said that tension within Fatah had been unprecedented lately, but said that this "does not mean that this is the beginning of the movement's downfall"
Meanwhile, media spokesman for Fatah in Nablus, Khalid Abu-Aziz, told KUNA that Fatah members in the city supported Fayyad's government because its formation came upon orders by President Abbas. He added that the government's formation was in line with laws and regulations, while stressing the need to end the debate over it in order for work to begin and for the ministers to take on their tasks. Abu-Aziz said that tension within Fatah had been unprecedented lately, but said that this "does not mean that this is the beginning of the movement's downfall," because similar circumstances had been witnessed in the past.

He noted that the Fatah parliamentary bloc was not a movement and that Abbas was the highest ranking leader, noting that "Nablus is the biggest Fatah-supporting district, and we support this decision." Meanwhile, political analyst, Khalil Shahin, told KUNA that the government formation could not deepen division because it already existed before the "expansion" of the government, adding that ending this division was not in the hands of Fayyad.
The solution, he said, was in the hands of the Palestinian factions, especially Fatah and Hamas, adding that once there was political will, the way would be paved for ending these differences.
Posted by:Seafarious

#1  Of course, none of the government expansion actually has anything to do with what governments are supposed to do, like build infrastructure, keep the peace, build schools and other boring things like that.

Hamas and Fatah. Just like the freaking Rojos and Baxters.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2009-05-22 09:50  

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