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Hamas, Fatah Officials Interviewed on Palestinian Government Plans

Posted on: Saturday, 18 March 2006, 12:00 CST

Al-Arabiya Television at 1212 gmt on 18 March carries live a four- minute satellite interview with Sa'id Siyam, a leading figure of Hamas and Palestinian Legislative Council [PLC] member. The interview is conducted by Al-Arabiya presenter May al-Shirbini.

Asked how Hamas intends to present the government make-up to President Mahmud Abbas despite the fact that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP] has not reached a decision on its participation, Siyam says: "We have conducted in-depth and long discussions over more than three weeks with the forces represented in the PLC. We also demonstrated great flexibility. As you mentioned in your report, we made several changes to our political programme in the hopes of bringing together all [political] forces on the basis of common denominators."

Siyam adds: "Contacts are being made, particularly with the brothers in the PFLP. They have until tomorrow evening to decide. So far, their attitude is positive. We also say that the door is open to everybody to participate in a coalition government that will comprise the [political] shades of the Palestinian people."

Siyam adds: "It seems that some parties do not want to participate in the government in the first place and are wagering on gaining time. This is not in the interests of anybody, because the Palestinian arena cannot endure further postponement, procrastination and wasting of time under the current challenges, the aggression taking place against our people, and the current situation, which is clear to everybody."

Siyam concludes by saying: "There is external pressure on some PLC members to prevent them from participating in a Hamas-led government."

Following this interview, the Al-Arabiya presenter interviews Ahmad Abd-al-Rahman, official spokesman of the Fatah Movement.

Asked to comment on Siyam's remarks regarding the existence of pressure on some PLC members not to participate in a Hamas-led government, Abd-al-Rahman says: "I would like to point out that I have no idea whether pressure is being exerted, but dear brother Sa'id Siyam knows that the Fatah movement, if he means it, is immune to any pressure. I do not think that he means the Fatah movement."

Asked about the Fatah movement's stand towards the government make-up if the PFLF participates in it, Abd-al-Rahman says: "It is more than welcome." He adds: "Hamas ignored the Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO], which is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people; and ignored the declaration of independence, the establishment of a state, the Palestinian [National] Authority [PNA], the Basic Law, Arab legitimacy and the Arab initiative, and international resolutions. I want to ask brother Sa'id Siyam: what can be achieved in the Palestinian arena at this stage? What can be achieved on the national, Arab and international levels? All we can achieve through efforts and struggle is a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with Jerusalem as its capital. This is a realistic [political] platform and is not a programme of the Fatah movement, the PFLP or the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine [DFLP]."

Abd-al-Rahman adds: "Hamas obtained majority in the PLC, but this majority needs a national majority. Does Hamas represent 100 per cent, 40 per cent or 30 per cent of the Palestinian people? A Hamas- led government needs all Palestinian political forces to support it on the basis of an objective and not a subjective programme."

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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