Erekat: Round of meetings in US
Photo: Reuters
Abed Rabbo: Didn't hear explicit opposition
Photo: Ori Porat
PA markets Mecca deal
Palestinian envoys fan out across world in attempt to recruit support for new unity government; PA also hopes for cash pledges and lifting of international embargo
Palestinian envoys fanned out across the world Sunday to update foreign leaders on the unity government agreement reached
between Fatah and Hamas.
The PA hoped its diplomatic blitz to market the unity agreement would result in cash pledges and a thaw of the embargo imposed upon the Palestinians since Hamas formed the government last year.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor Nabil Amr was slated to embark for Brussels in attempt to recruit European Union support.
Cool Response
In first public response to understandings reached between Fatah and Hamas, prime minister tells cabinet Israel is studying agreement's details and will then make its stance known
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and PA minister Yasser Abed Rabbo have already held a round of meetings in the United States to promote the deal.
According to their reports, the US administration did not explicitly oppose the unity deal and said they would wait to evaluate the new government’s performance.
'Room for hope'
Top Fatah representative Qadoura Fares heard a similar response from EU envoy to the Middle East Mark Otte and a number of foreign consuls.
In a conversation with Ynet, Fares said foreign representatives inquired what the agreement entailed and what its consequences would be. The diplomats also asked whether Hamas’ position had changed and to what degree the new government would cooperate with President Abbas and adopt his stances, Fares noted.
Fares said he provide details of the plan and requested European support.
“I believe that if the new Palestinian government implements the unity
agreement and doesn’t become an arena in which each faction acts only to advance its own outlooks and opinions, then the European attitude may change and there will be room for hope,” Fares said.
Fatah will begin holding meetings Sunday to select its representatives for the government. It appears that Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan will refuse the position of vice premier. Although Dahlan was absent from the deal’s signing ceremony in Mecca in apparent protest, he promised to recruit support for the deal abroad.
