Last update - 00:00 16/10/2006
Palestinian court to examine petition to sack government
By Reuters
A Palestinian lawyer on Monday asked a Gaza court to order Palestinian Authority Chairmam Mahmoud Abbas to dismiss the Hamas-led government, claiming the Muslim group bore responsibility for internal Palestinian violence.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the lawsuit filed by Wasim Abu Rass, a supporter of Abbas' Fatah movement, was politically motivated.
Abu Rass said the court would convene on Saturday to hear his petition, which also calls on Abbas to use his presidential powers and dissolve parliament.
In his argument, Abu Rass said the government was responsible for the lack of security in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, noting particularly the deaths of nine Palestinians earlier this month in clashes between members of a Hamas-led police force and other security agencies loyal to Abbas.
Abbas and Hamas have been locked in a power struggle since the group defeated Fatah in a Palestinian election in January.
Efforts to form a unity government have gone nowhere despite early optimism, and Abbas has hinted he may dismiss the cabinet unless progress is made.
Poverty has deepened in the Palestinian territories since Hamas formed a government in March and Western donor states cut off aid.
Hamas has rejected international calls to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept existing interim peace deals ? conditions for both international aid and the formation of a unity government.
Abu Rass' petition is the first case of its kind to be brought before a Palestinian court since Hamas came to power.
"The Hamas-dominated parliament stood by, watching the situation in Gaza and the West Bank deteriorate," said Abu Rass.
But Barhoum said the attorney's allegations were misdirected.
"It is unfair to hold the government responsible. Abu Rass should have held the occupation, the Americans and the Europeans responsible for the misery resulting from the siege they imposed," Barhoum said.