"The hurried swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet left the Palestinians
effectively with two governments the Hamas leadership in Gaza and the new
Cabinet in the West Bank led by respected economist Salam Fayyad.
Abbas
issued decrees Sunday annulling a law requiring the new government to be
approved by parliament, which is dominated by Hamas, and outlawing the Islamic
group's militias."
This is probably a move that should have been taken a long time ago. The leadership of Hamas has no desire for peace with Israel, short of the peace of Israels destruction. You cannot bargain, and you cannot compromise with a group that is set on your demise. The interests of the Palestinian people as I have said many times, lies in peace. A peaceful strong relationship with its neighbor Israel is the only way that their lives are going to emerge from the poverty they are locked in now.
In taking this step Abbas is in danger of making the conflict between his group and Hamas, that much worse. However if this means the end of Hamas as a force for agitation in Gaza and the West Bank, in the end it will be the right choice. International groups, the US and Israel have already agreed to assist the new government with aid.
The small emergency Cabinet is dominated by independents, including human
rights activists and business people. Only one, Interior Minister Abdel Razak
Yehiyeh, is a member of Abbas' Fatah movement.
It is encouraging that Abbas did not fill the new cabinet with his own people but reached out to independents. I think it shows that he is honestly concerned with what is best for the people.
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