Other Palestinian groups defy PA by calling for establishment of political body that represents ‘the people’
Representatives of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas are embroiled in talks over the formation of a new government due to be unveiled in the coming weeks. However, evidence of disagreements between different factions and within the higher echelons of the current power structure indicates the process could be significantly delayed.
Last week, Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah submitted his resignation to Abbas following a recommendation from the Fatah Central Committee that a new government be formed. According to the officials, it will be made up of “Palestinian political factions of the Palestinian Liberation Organization [PLO] and independent figures.”
Dala Erikat, a leading Palestinian academic at the Arab American University and a columnist at al-Quds newspaper, told The Media Line that “what’s important now isn’t who’s forming the government, but when will it be ready?” In this regard, she noted, it is “worrisome” that little news has surfaced.
When asked about potential candidates, Erekat expressed a preference for independents that she believes will better serve the needs of the Palestinian people.
As things stand, the new government is supposed to be sworn in by Abbas during a ceremony in Ramallah tentatively slated for the end of February.
Meanwhile, Hamas—the armed Islamic armed group that rules the Gaza Strip—denounced Abbas’ political maneuvering, with spokesman Hazem Qassem telling The Media Line that, “this is a new violation that deepens the Palestinian crisis and weakens the internal front.”
Other entities such as the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Gaza-based Iranian proxy Islamic Jihad are following Hamas’ lead by not participating in negotiations over the creation of a new government.
“Until this moment, there is no consensus between any of the Palestinian political parties,” Eyad Qura, a Palestinian political analyst, told The Media Line. “Under the current circumstances, a new government is unnecessary, will not be representative of the Palestinian people and won’t bring much-needed change.”
According to Qura, Abbas is nevertheless proceeding out of a sense of isolation caused by his rifts with Hamas and the Trump administration in addition to the lack of progress towards making peace with Israel or actualizing statehood.
“Basically, President Abbas is responding to and pleasing the Fatah voices,” he explained, adding that “what is really happening is that the president is assigning a group of Fatah members to lead the Palestinian people, especially candidates who are very close to Abbas.”
A Palestinian official who spoke to The Media Line on condition of anonymity agreed that the Palestinian mainstream is very divided. Some support Mohammed Shtayeh—currently Minister of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction—whereas others are throwing their lot behind Hussien al-Shiekh, who since 2013 has served as Coordination of Civil Affairs.
The source further explained that Abbas is waiting for close allies to decide on a candidate for prime minister, otherwise “he will assign forming the new government to al-Hamdallah.”