Hamas has suggested the formation of a unity government several times already, but always faced opposition from the PA, a senior party member in the West Bank told Ma'an Sunday.
Hamas leader Ayman Daraghma did not rule out participating in a new Palestinian Authority cabinet, and hinted that the ongoing unrest in the Arab world might give Fatah, which leads the West Bank government, the motivation to end the Palestinian political crisis.
"We should be patient as the new government is formed, it is possible that we could shortly form a unity government which includes Hamas, this is essential if we are seeking to reach national conciliation," member of Fatah Central Committee Nabil Shaath told Ma’an Sunday evening.
Appointed PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad appears to have the backing of Fatah, and interest from Hamas as he moves forward with the creation of what reports say will be a unity government. Leftist groups, however, have indicated that they would prefer to remain outside the latest cabinet.
Fayyad was reappointed prime minister on 14 February and asked to form a cabinet to take the Palestinian Authority into elections called for September. With unrest rocking the Middle East and protests breaking out in handfuls of capitals calling for government reform, it appears the PA is making efforts to include Hamas in the new government so it will agree to participate in the national vote.
"We shouldn’t miss this looming opportunity," Shaath said, adding that he would shortly visit Gaza, where "Hamas’ leaders are interested in reconciliation."
Though a Fatah spokesman said efforts were moving forward to get Hamas to sign the Egyptian unity document - a reconciliation paper that the Islamist party has refused to sign without amending - other officials say unity could be achieved through the new PA cabinet.
Asked what he thought the new cabinet would look like, Shaath said he doubted that Hamas would get any central positions, saying that Fatah officials would likely vie for key posts. He added, "they have the right because it is a Fatah government."
The Palestinian Democratic Union, Fida, has also been asked to join on to the new cabinet, party officials told Ma'an, saying a central committee meeting had been called for Monday to discuss joining the new government.
Fida undersecretary-general Siham Barghouthi had served as the Minister of Culture in a former PA cabinet under Fayyad.
Secretary-general of the Palestinian People's Party Bassam As-Salihi refused to be definitive over whether the party would join the new cabinet if asked, saying conciliation between Fatah and Hamas topped a unity government.
"The PPP would like any new government to focus on very clear priorities whether we are in the government or not. This government must protect public freedoms, cut taxes significantly, and lower prices of basic commodities including fuel, rice, sugar, electricity, water and university tuition."
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said it would not join the new government, suggesting that the PA hand over political and economic security issues "to the occupation forces."
"The PFLP is not considering joining the new government,” deputy secretary-general of the party Abdul-Rahim Mallouh said after a meeting with Salam Fayyad, where he suggested the agenda of a new cabinet should focus entirely on internal issues, and making the daily lives of Palestinians better.
Officials from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine would not speak on record, but a party source told Ma'an that the leftists would prefer to remain outside of the new cabinet.
Government spokesman Ghassan Al-Khatib said Fayyad was making progress toward the creation of a cabinet, saying only that consultations with women and youth groups were extensive in the process.
"I am not aware of the nature of the new government, but one of the reasons to reshuffle the government was the need to fill some vacant portfolios," he said.
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