Fatah's central committee decided Tuesday night to suspend
participation in the Palestinian coalition government with Hamas
until infighting has subsided in Gaza.
A statement circulated to press said an emergency meeting was
chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank
city of Ramallah, and was attended by Fatah's central committee
members.
It remains unclear whether Fatah has decided to withdraw
completely from the national coalition, which was decided upon on
February 8 by leaders from both Fatah and Hamas at a meeting in
Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The Palestinian national unity government marked a power-share
between Fatah, Hamas, and various independents loyal to the two
movements with other factions represented in the Palestinian
Legislative Council (PLC) also gaining some influence.
According to the Mecca agreement, Hamas received 12 ministries
plus the Prime Minister post, Fatah received 6 portfolios while the
remaining 5 posts would go to independents, 3 chosen by Hamas and 2
chosen by Fatah. Other factions received four ministerial-level
posts.?The national unity government was formed in the first
week of March, led by Prime Minister Ismail Haneya.
Unfortunately, infighting between Hamas and Fatah militants has
intensified since last Thursday, leading the Fatah central
committee to call on its members to "foil a coup attempt carried
out by a violent group of Hamas militants against the Palestinian
Authority and its security apparatuses."
Earlier on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry Chief of
Emergency Mo'aweya Hassanein put the body count in latest clashes
at 43 Palestinians dead and 80 wounded.
Hassanein told reporters that 21 Palestinians were killed on
Tuesday night alone during fierce gunbattles to the east of Jabalia
refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, adding that 60 were
wounded.
(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2007)
