Palestinian source: Livni-led government would be fragile

The Palestinians are deeply concerned about the possible results of the police investigation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: A senior Palestinian source told Ynet Sunday that despite the lack of serious boost to the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority would rather see Olmert stay in office.

A government headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (which may take over as acting prime minister should Olmert resign), will innately be a "weak, fragile government, unable to push any significant political move," said the source.

According to the source, should the peace process come to a halt as a result of the police probe against Olmert, the PA will have no choice but to revert to negotiating with Hamas.

"If until now the talks with Israel were the reason for the PA not talking to Hamas about an internal reconciliation. Any diplomatic freeze will call for those talks to resume.

"We know that not only Hamas suffers form the Palestinian spilt," added the source. "Many in the Palestinian public hold the PA responsible for the situation, (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas and (Palestinian Prime Minister Salam) Fayyad…many think both sides share the responsibility for the internal spilt."

In the absence of a political process, concluded the source, "We will not be able to make Hamas adhere to the demands of the international community."

Regardless of the peace process, stressed the source, there are no official talks between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

The Palestinian Authority voiced concerns about Olmert's investigation last week as well: A Palestinian source told Ynet at the time that the PA is worried that "any headway made in the negotiations at this time may just amount to a waste of time."