Palestine: Unity Government Motivated By Region’s Protests; Fayad Not To Take Part

The New York Times reports that the agreement reached by Fateh and Hamas to form a unity government was influenced by regional changes created by the Arab Spring. Specifically, unrest in Syria may deprive Hamas of its external headquarters; while, a new Egyptian regime may open the Gaza-Sinai border. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has argued that unity was needed to give legitimacy to Palestinian Authority’s push for statehood before the United Nations General Assembly in September. Additionally, Abbas had said that reconciliation between the two parties was a prerequisite to national elections. However,  Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Al Fayad, who is largely credited with building state-ready institutions in the occupied territories, will not be part of the Palestinian unity government to be formed next week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the Palestinian Authority must choose between peace with Israel or Hamas.

Elliott Abrams has argued that forming a government that both includes a US-designated terrorist organization and excludes the most trusted Palestinian fiscal manager is likely to undermine US aid to the Palestinian Authority.