Ismail Haniyeh
צילום: רויטרס
Haniyeh nominated as Palestinian PM
Hamas representatives expected to meet Sunday with PA Chairman Abbas in bid to reach understanding on forming government headed by group's pragmatic wing leader
Hamas announced Sunday that it has nominated Ismail Haniyeh, who headed the group's list in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, as the new Palestinian prime minister.
Haniyeh is seen as a leader of Hamas' pragmatic wing. The group's leaders are expected to meet Sunday with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in order to notify him on their official decision regarding Haniyeh.
In the meeting, the parties are expected to set the basic principles of the new Palestinian government. If an agreement is reached, Abbas is expected to announce that he is giving Hamas the task of putting together a new government, and Hamas' decision regarding Haniyeh will thus come into force.
Hamas officials declared on Saturday, after the new Palestinian parliament members were sworn in, that the group opposes the basic political principles mentioned by Abbas in his speech, but that they accept the basic principles relating to internal issues, a reform, the fight against corruption, improving the Palestinians' living conditions and the need to end the security anarchy in the PA.
Hamas adopts Arab Peace Initiative
However, the declaration of Hamas' politburo chief Khaled Mashaal that the group has adopted the Arab Peace Initiative approved in a Beirut summit three years ago, is expected to pave the way to consultations with Abbas on forming a new government headed by Haniyeh.
The Arab Peace Initiative calls for Israel's withdrawal to the 1967 lines and to the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as well as a call on the Arab world to recognize Israel's right to exist.
On Saturday, Mashaal said that he accepts the initiative with slight reservations. Haniyeh is thus expected to begin his negotiations with the different Palestinian organizations on the basis of the initiative.
Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar is expected to head Hamas' negotiations team.
Some of the Palestinian parties, including The Third Way, headed by Salam Fayad and Hanan Ashrawi, are expected to demand that Hamas moderate its political stance, particularly in terms of ways to fight the Israeli occupation, and that the movement commit not to harm the civil and social status quo in the PA.
Palestinian sources estimated that the negotiations between the different parties will take a number of weeks before the first Hamas government is sworn in.
