BICOM

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the leader of the rival Islamic group Hamas agreed to hold elections in the Palestinian territories in May 2012, even as they failed to resolve their differences over the formation of an interim unity government, at a meeting in Cairo yesterday.  The meeting was the first between Abbas, chief of the Fatah movement, and his rival, Khaled Meshal, the political leader of Hamas, since the two men signed a reconciliation accord in May. It remains unclear after the meeting yesterday whether the two sides were indeed committed to the further narrowing of their differences, and if they would take concrete steps towards power sharing in the future.

The May agreement, brokered by Egypt, called for a transitional unity cabinet of independent technocrats to prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections by May 2012 and the eventual merging of rival security forces. Despite auspicious public statements after their meeting yesterday, the two leaders remain deadlocked over the makeup of that government. Abbas has insisted on retaining Salam Fayyad as prime minister, as he is well regarded internationally for his Palestinian institution-building programme. Hamas, however, demand Fayyad be replaced with a Gazan of its choosing.

Both sides insisted yesterday that their differences were being worked out and that they would meet again on 20 December. Both leaders also described the atmosphere in yesterday’s meeting as positive, suggesting they are ready to embark on a partnership despite the past animosity. “We discussed all the details about reconciliation and would like to tell you that there are no differences between us at all on any of the issues,” Abbas told reporters after the meeting. “You will see all of this in the coming days and weeks.”

Meshal, who is based in Damascus, Syria, said that the atmosphere was positive. “With this meeting we have opened a new page of a high level of understanding,” he said. Neither of the leaders, however, directly spoke on the deadlock over the appointment of a unity government.

Hamas rejects Israel’s existence and is classified as a terrorist organisation by the US and the EU. Israel and the West say they will not deal with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless the Islamic group accepts international demands, laid down by the Quartet, to recognise Israel, renounces violence and accepts all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Hamas, however, has shown no sign of agreeing to those conditions, and the prospect of a unity government threatens the Palestinian Authority’s relations with Israel, Europe and the United States. It also jeopardises its finances. Israeli officials have withheld the transfer of approximately $100 million a month in taxes and customs duties, which Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians, in part waiting to see the outcome of unity talks.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the Abbas-Meshal meeting yesterday and said that he hoped the Palestinians move away from a relationship with Hamas and also move away from its plans to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state.