Hamas refuses Fatah's offer to govern jointly

MIDDLE EAST: The Islamic movement Hamas yesterday turned down an offer from the ruling Fatah movement to form a national unity government and called for the reactivation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

The offer was extended last week by president Mahmoud Abbas and prime minister Ahmad Korei with the object of curbing lawlessness in Gaza and the West Bank and maintaining order once Israel begins its evacuation of Gaza and West Bank settlements in mid-August.

By co-opting Hamas, Mr Abbas also hoped to recommit the movement to the halt in operations against Israel agreed last February.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zahri called for the formation of a national committee to deal specifically with the withdrawal. Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said: "Such issues should be dealt with through a national committee in which all parties who took part in the liberation of the land should be represented and have a say."

This would include Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as factions grouped under the PLO umbrella.

Hamas considers the offer to be a ploy to mollify the movement over the postponement of legislative elections from July 17th until January 20th, 2006, a date set unilaterally by Fatah in spite of protests from Hamas.

Although the latest opinion poll showed that Fatah would win 44 per cent of the vote and Hamas 33 per cent if the election was held on time, Mr Abbas, who announced the delay, did not want to risk an election until Fatah changes its image.

During a meeting of its central committee in Amman last week, Fatah not only proposed major reforms but also called for an investigation of the assets of members to determine if they have been involved in corruption.

Hamas has refused to join the Palestinian Authority or take part in government because the movement does not want to be blamed for Fatah's mismanagement and corruption or be part of institutions established under the defunct and deeply unpopular Oslo accords, opposed by Hamas.

The Palestinian Authority is likely to agree to Hamas' demand for a national co-ordinating committee. The movement's political leadership and military wing are stronger on the ground in Gaza than the discredited authority and the competing Palestinian security services which are outgunned by militants because Israel refuses to permit the Palestinian police to own and carry arms.

Mr Abbas can argue that the creation of a committee does not elevate Hamas to full partnership in the authority and could prevent Hamas from seizing control of Gaza after Israel's departure, an issue of serious concern in Israel.

But it rejected the inclusion of Hamas in the Palestinian government and said Israel would not negotiate with a body containing Hamas, which it considers a "terrorist" movement.

However, Israel could welcome a peaceful pullout rather than one punctuated by Hamas attacks on departing convoys of troops and settlers.