Jordan Times
Monday, March 19, 2007
King hopes unity gov’t leads to Palestinian state
AMMAN (AP) — Arab leaders pledged support on
Sunday for the new unity government between Fateh and Hamas and expressed hope
that its creation would lead to the end of the embargo on the Palestinian people
and the formation of an independent Palestinian state.
The creation of the new Palestinian coalition came ahead of a March 28 Arab
summit, where Mideast leaders are hoping to build momentum for a resumption of
the peace process with Israel.
Moderate Arabs are urging Washington to back the new coalition and lift a
punishing economic boycott on the Palestinians, imposed more than a year ago
when Hamas formed a government, which the new coalition replaces. But the US has
refused to resume financial help.
King Abdullah told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over the telephone that
the new government will hopefully be “a step towards the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state on Palestinian lands”, the Jordan News Agency,
Petra, reported.
King Abdullah also reaffirmed Jordan's full support for “efforts to rebuild
Palestinian institutions to achieve the aspirations of the Palestinian people".
Saudi King Abdullah also expressed hope on Sunday that the new government would
lead to the creation of a Palestinian state and called on the government to
"seek a solution based on the Arab Peace Initiative".
The initiative, which was approved by the Arab League in 2002, calls for peace
between Israel and Arab nations for the return of Arab lands seized by Israel in
1967.
Israel rejected the Arab peace deal but in recent weeks has said it could
support it with some amendments. The Arab summit is to relaunch the peace plan.
"We should support this government and reject the embargo imposed on the
Palestinian people, which is at the top of the [Arab summit] agenda," said Amr
Musa, secretary general of the Arab League.
Musa on Sunday met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.
On Saturday, Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammad Mahdi Akef sent a message
congratulating Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas and Khaled
Mishaal, Hamas' exiled supreme leader, according to the group's website.
Akef called on Arab and Islamic governments "to undertake their historic duty to
support the national unity government and support the Palestinian brothers in
breaking the embargo imposed on them for more than a year".
Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was founded in Egypt.
Hamas' rise to power last year provoked Western donor nations to cut off aid to
the Palestinians. Israel also has withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in
taxes it collects for the Palestinians. The sanctions have devastated the
Palestinian economy.
Israel and the US on Sunday ruled out a resumption of transfers to the
Palestinians. They believe the platform of the new government falls short of
international demands to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept past
peace deals.
The new Palestinian alliance appears to implicitly recognise Israel by calling
for a Palestinian state on lands the Israelis captured in 1967, in contrast with
Hamas' past calls to eliminate Israel altogether.
It also pledges to "respect" previous agreements with Israel and authorises
Abbas to conduct future peace talks.
Norway announced on Sunday it would lift sanctions, and Britain and the UN also
signalled flexibility.