VOTE DUE ON PALESTINIAN CABINET !
Ismail Haniya seems likely to have the Cabinet approved. A new Palestinian unity government formed of members of the rival Fatah and Hamas factions is being presented before parliament in Gaza.
The vote of confidence in the new cabinet of prospective Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas is expected to be a formality.
Palestinians hope there will then be an end to a crippling Western boycott.
The EU and UN have indicated there could be a softening, but Israel says the government is a step backwards.
Finance minister
The parliament opened its session shortly after 1100 local time (0900 GMT) to hear a speech from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also the leader of Fatah.
Mr Haniya was then presenting his planned cabinet and reading a policy speech before the vote of confidence.
Israel has indicated it will deal with only Mahmoud Abbas.
If ratified, the ministers will then be sworn in at Mr Abbas's office.
The Palestinian economy has been badly hit by the international embargo.
It was imposed after the election victory in January last year of Hamas, which rejects international calls for it to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the new government contains a cross section of Palestinian parties, including some ministers who recognise Israel.
As a result, he says, UN and EU sources have indicated there will be a softening in their stance towards the government.
The US has also indicated it may leave the door open to some contact with the proposed finance minister.
Salam Fayyad is a Western-backed economist who is thought to be respected by the Bush administration.
One US official said Washington would not deal with him officially but might consider unofficial contacts.
Israel, however, said it would shun the new administration.
Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said on Friday that Israel should try to deal with only Mr Abbas as a means to "drive Hamas out of power".
Increasing lawlessness
Although there have been signs of a softening in the international stance towards the new government, particularly by France and Russia, there are no guarantees the international boycott will end.
Clashes between Fatah and Hamas gunmen have left scores dead.
Britain has said it will only have diplomatic contact with non-Hamas members of the government.
The US says the administration must accept Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and conform to past peace deals but has otherwise reserved judgment.
The new administration was forged after several months of fighting between the Hamas and Fatah factions left more than 140 people dead.
Saturday's vote comes amid increasing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip.
There has been a series of abductions over recent months of Western aid workers and journalists. Intensive efforts are continuing to find missing BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston, who is feared kidnapped.
On Friday, Palestinian gunmen fired on a vehicle transporting UN aid official John Ging in the northern Gaza Strip.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
The vote of confidence in the new cabinet of prospective Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas is expected to be a formality.
Palestinians hope there will then be an end to a crippling Western boycott.
The EU and UN have indicated there could be a softening, but Israel says the government is a step backwards.
Finance minister
The parliament opened its session shortly after 1100 local time (0900 GMT) to hear a speech from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also the leader of Fatah.
Mr Haniya was then presenting his planned cabinet and reading a policy speech before the vote of confidence.
Israel has indicated it will deal with only Mahmoud Abbas.
If ratified, the ministers will then be sworn in at Mr Abbas's office.
The Palestinian economy has been badly hit by the international embargo.
It was imposed after the election victory in January last year of Hamas, which rejects international calls for it to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the new government contains a cross section of Palestinian parties, including some ministers who recognise Israel.
As a result, he says, UN and EU sources have indicated there will be a softening in their stance towards the government.
The US has also indicated it may leave the door open to some contact with the proposed finance minister.
Salam Fayyad is a Western-backed economist who is thought to be respected by the Bush administration.
One US official said Washington would not deal with him officially but might consider unofficial contacts.
Israel, however, said it would shun the new administration.
Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said on Friday that Israel should try to deal with only Mr Abbas as a means to "drive Hamas out of power".
Increasing lawlessness
Although there have been signs of a softening in the international stance towards the new government, particularly by France and Russia, there are no guarantees the international boycott will end.
Clashes between Fatah and Hamas gunmen have left scores dead.
Britain has said it will only have diplomatic contact with non-Hamas members of the government.
The US says the administration must accept Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and conform to past peace deals but has otherwise reserved judgment.
The new administration was forged after several months of fighting between the Hamas and Fatah factions left more than 140 people dead.
Saturday's vote comes amid increasing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip.
There has been a series of abductions over recent months of Western aid workers and journalists. Intensive efforts are continuing to find missing BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston, who is feared kidnapped.
On Friday, Palestinian gunmen fired on a vehicle transporting UN aid official John Ging in the northern Gaza Strip.
posted by jackaranda at 9:42 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home