11-14-06, 8:33 am

Representatives of Hamas and Fatah movements met on Sunday evening in order to finalize the details of the upcoming National Unity Government. The meeting was held at the presidential headquarters in Gaza with the participation of legislative council members Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi and Ziad Amro.

The meeting was described as positive, and the parties decided to hold another meeting on Sunday at night but without the presence of the Press.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, said that the name of the new government head will be announced in the proper time and through official statements.

Haniyya added that President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed that talks with the United States and the European Union are taking place in order to lift the embargo as soon as the new government is instated.

A senior Hamas member stated that the second meeting will include detailed talks on distributing the parliamentarian posts, ministries, authorities and naming the ministers in addition to all issues that would guarantee the success of the National Unity Government.

He added that the new government would not be announced before the name of the assigned Prime Minister is agreed upon.

Ahmad Qurei, from Fatah party, said that the talks are taking a serious and positive track, and added that there are some issues that still need to be resolved.

“The serious work to form the new government has started”, Qurei stated, “This government will be able to end the siege, and hold its responsibilities; it will be fully supported by Fatah, Hamas and the rest of the national and Islamic factions”.

Arab Countries Pledge to Break International Embargo on PA

Meanwhile, Arab Foreign Minister decided during an urgent summit in Cairo to break the siege imposed on the Palestinians and to transfer aid money to the Palestinian Authority. Secretary of the Arab League, Amr Mousa, said that this decision means that Arab Banks should not be committed to any restrictions on transferring money to the Palestinian government.

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, said that he hopes that the Arab countries will carry practical measures to break the siege in order to end the suffering of the Palestinian People.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Zahhar, told reporters in Cairo that the Arab decision to break the siege is extremely important and could be the base of lifting the international embargo.

Zahhar added that the government, headed by Hamas, and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, agreed not to start forming the new National Unity Government without receiving guarantees that the international embargo will be lifted.

He added that the Palestinian delegates to the Arab league failed to achieve the support of the Arab minister on the issue of reopening the Rafah Border Crossing without waiting for Israel to agree.

Also, Amr Mousa slammed that American Veto against a UN resolution condemning the recent Beit Hanoun attack that killed at least 18 residents, all family members including several children.

Mousa added that this Veto “increases the anger, and is an unexplainable act that is considered a protection for the Israeli attacks against the civilians.”

From Palestine Media Center