Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh appealed on Monday to the United States and other mediators to restore economic aid to the Palestinian Authority in response to a Hamas-Fatah unity agreement. "Today there is a cautious, pessimistic U.S. position towards this agreement," Haniyeh said in a speech.
"I say to the Quartet and to the European Union that this is the will of the Palestinian people, and they should respect it and they should work to end the status of siege," he said.
A letter from President Mahmoud Abbas reappointing Haniyeh as prime minister contained a call to the Islamic resistance movement to "abide by the interests of the Palestinian people" and "respect" past agreements and international law. "In a meeting soon with President (Abbas), when he visits Gaza, we will resume the dialogue to conclude all the remaining issues so we can finalize details of a unity government," Haniyeh said in his speech. He conveyed his government will resign in the coming days - a formality that should pave the way for the unity government.
Haniyeh confirmed Hamas would hold nine cabinet posts, with six going to Fatah. An independent candidate would become interior minister, a position that oversees security services. The Gaza-based Hamas leader said the unity agreement reflected a desire by Hamas and Fatah to end factional clashes. "All Palestinians have won in this agreement,'' he said.
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
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