Palestinian PM convenes first unity govt. meeting in Gaza

PanARMENIAN.Net - Palestinian technocrat Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah arrived in the Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip on Thursday, Oct 9, and convened the first meeting of a unity government there since a brief civil war in 2007 between Hamas and forces loyal to the Fatah party, Reuters

Dozens of Fatah security personnel loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and policemen from the Hamas-led interior ministry in the enclave were out in force to protect Hamdallah, who did a walk-past inspection of a police guard of honor.

"I come to you representing President Mahmoud Abbas and, as head of the government of national consensus, to assume our responsibilities, see your needs and launch a comprehensive workshop to salvage Gaza and bring relief to our people here," he said.

He also visited a neighborhood destroyed in a 50-day war with Israel in July and August, and his presence in Gaza may encourage donor countries to pledge funds to rebuild Gaza, which he has estimated will cost $4 billion over the next three years.

"I have wept in Beit Hanoun when I saw how people are living and where they are sleeping ... I hope the donor conference will be a success and that money donated will be enough so we can immediately begin the rebuilding," Hamdallah said.

Palestinian parties agreed last month that the unity government would assume immediate authority over Gaza before an international aid conference set for Oct 12 in Egypt's capital, Cairo. The two sides agreed to form a joint cabinet in May.

Donors have for years been wary of giving aid as long as Hamas, blacklisted as a terrorist group by many Western countries, rules the blockaded coastal strip after it seized the territory from Western-backed Fatah in the 2007 war.

Hamas sees itself as the lawful representative of the Palestinian people after winning parliamentary polls the year before its fighters grabbed control of Gaza, and says its armed resistance against Israel is legitimate.

U.S.-backed peace talks between Israel and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank to achieve a state there and in Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital collapsed in April.