Last update - 00:00 17/10/2006
Abbas lacks majority in Fatah to oust Hamas government
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Most Fatah leaders are opposed to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' initiative to dismiss the Hamas government.
Consequently, the Fatah Central Committee has postponed a meeting scheduled to discuss the Abbas proposal.
Abbas has spoken repeatedly of the possibility of invoking his right to dissolve the government and in its place, establish a government of experts.
According to the Palestinian constitution, a government which does not win parliamentary support can not hold power for more than a few months. Establishment of a government of experts would greatly increase the chance of early elections for the PA.
The Fatah Central Committee, composed of 20 members, was to have convened Monday evening in Amman in order to discuss Abbas' proposal.
Hardline senior Fatah official Farouk Kadoumi arrived in Amman from Damascus and Abbas came from the West Bank.
However, according to the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper, at the last minute it became clear to Abbas that his proposal would not gain majority support. Due to this realization, the decision was made to postpone the central committee session.
In the meantime, diplomatic efforts continue to work towards an agreement on regime change. A-Sharq Al-Ousat newspaper reported that Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman proposed to Khaled Meshal, the head of Hamas' political bureau, that Hamas leave the government.
Suleiman advised that were it to be outside the government, Hamas could influence the policies of the new government, while utilizing the decided majority which Hamas has in the Palestinian parliament.
Hamas has refused to agree to the demands of the international community, which has urged it to recognize Israel, forswear violence, and commit to prior peace agreements. Fatah and the Egyptians argue that as long as Hamas remains in power, the boycott of the PA will not be lifted, further hurting Palestinian interests.