Hamas leader al-Zahar
צילום: רויטרס
PFLP: Willing to join Hamas government
PFLP expresses willingness in principle to join Hamas-led government
Members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced Monday that in principle they are willing to join a Hamas-led government.
The announcement was made following a meeting between Hamas and PFLP representatives.
Hamas, PFLP meet (Photo: AP)
Hamas decided to hold its first meeting in an effort to form the new government with the PFLP, which won three seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council.
The Islamic group, which scored a stunning elections victory, does not need to join forces with any other party in order to form a coalition, yet Hamas nonetheless engages in contacts with other parties in order to gain legitimacy for the new government.
During Monday's meeting, Hamas and PFLP representatives discussed the subject of arrests, and especially the detainment of PFLP Secretary-General Ahmed Saadat, jailed in a Jericho prison alongside the masterminds of the murder of Minister Rahavam Ze'evi.
At the end of the meeting, Hamas spokesman Salah Bardawil said the meeting was successful and positive and that the Popular Front will follow with its own conditions and demands for further discussions.
Meanwhile, Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' candidate for the post of prime minister, met with the chairman of the PLO's Palestinian National Council, Salim Zaanun.
The two discussed the formation of a new government as well as future cooperation. The two also discussed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' wish to maintain the PLO's diplomatic policy concerning negotiations with Israel on matters of defense and foreign policy.
Haniyeh and Zaanun are concerned about clashes between the new Hamas-led government and Abbas, especially based on reports that the PA chairman is planning to make new security-related appointments before the new government is sworn in.
The two figures also talked about the possibility of Hamas representatives joining PLO institutions.
