Palestinian PM-designate tries to rally support
( 2003-09-22 10:02) (Agencies)
Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qurie sought to rally support Sunday for his government-in-the-making and said he wanted to unify Palestinian factions to suggest a temporary truce to Israel.
But Qurie's talks in Gaza with a committee representing 13 Palestinian factions did not include Hamas, the militant group which along with Islamic Jihad has carried out scores of suicide bombings in Israel in a three-year-old uprising for statehood.
The two groups said they would not join a Palestinian administration that would promote a U.S.-backed peace plan.
"We reject participation in a government that is governed by Oslo or by any other Israeli and U.S. project," Islamic Jihad official Khader Habib said, referring to interim peace deals signed in the 1990s and a peace "road map" affirmed on June 4.
Leaders of Hamas are in hiding from Israeli attack but Adnan Asfour, a political leader in Hamas, said by telephone from the West Bank that the group would not participate in the new cabinet if asked.
"Our position remains that we do not participate in a government under occupation and in a government that is governed by Oslo peace accords, which we do not accept," he told Reuters. His views were echoed by Hamas leaders in Beirut.
"The Hamas movement has not participated in any previous governments and will not take part in the forthcoming new government," a Hamas statement faxed to Reuters in Beirut said.
Israel has killed 12 Hamas leaders or aides by missile strike since a Hamas suicide bombing killed 23 people in Jerusalem on August 19.
The roar of Israeli F-16 warplanes echoed across Gaza City as Qurie, who is also known as Abu Ala, held the consultations.
QURIE HOPES TO NEGOTIATE CEASE-FIRE OFFER
Asked if he was trying to procure a temporary cease-fire, Qurie told reporters: "We are having a dialogue...to form the fundamental common basis (for one) and we want to negotiate with the Israelis to reach an agreement for a mutual cease-fire."
But he added: "We have not addressed this with the Israelis officially before we formulate a unified Palestinian position." He also said any truce offer would be conditional.
Islamic Jihad officials said they would be willing to discuss a new truce if it included international guarantees to prevent "Israeli aggressions" against the Palestinians. Hamas officials said they too would consider any truce proposal.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat appointed Qurie prime minister on September 10 after Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, resigned saying his efforts to promote the U.S.-backed road map had been undermined by Arafat and Israel.
Qurie said discussions on the formation of his government might take longer than expected as he was not sure if he would be able to form the government by Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, welcoming foreign dignitaries celebrating the 80th birthday of Shimon Peres, leader of the opposition Labor Party and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said the peace plan faced two obstacles.
"One is Yasser Arafat, who just a short time ago undermined the government of Abu Mazen because we started talks," Sharon told the visitors.
"Another thing is terror, because as long as terror exists -- before having full cessation of terror, hostilities and incitement -- I don't think it's a possibility...to move forward in the peace process."
Israel issued an open-ended threat to "remove" Arafat after suicide bombings killed 15 people on September 9. The decision touched off an international outcry, including a U.N. General Assembly resolution Friday condemning Israel.
"There is no reason to debate the issue again," a government source quoted Sharon as telling his cabinet Sunday.
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