Abbas holds ceasefire talks with Palestinian rivals
Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas held talks with rival Palestinian factions today on sharing power and halting attacks on Israel ahead of a presidential election in January.
Meanwhile, the EU is seeking ways to ensure the election is a success.
A British diplomat said London is sending an adviser to help the Palestinians set up the elections.
Abbas first met Gaza leaders of his Fatah movement, and was to meet later with the Islamic militant opposition groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad
Ziad Abu Amr, a Fatah MP participating in the talks, said that at issue are the terms of a ceasefire and whether to establish a “unified leadership” that would give Hamas and Islamic Jihad a role in decisions, at least until the elections.
Abu Amr said Hamas and Islamic Jihad want to have a say in decision-making, but will not participate in the election for Palestinian Authority president, meant to replace Yasser Arafat, who died in a Paris hospital last week.
Hamas initially said it was considering fielding a candidate. However, Abu Amr said the group is no longer interested because the presidential elections are not accompanied by a vote for the legislature and all municipalities.
Four years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting have strengthened Hamas, which is believed to have drawn even with the once dominant Fatah in popular support. Hamas would likely see the strongest gains in municipal and legislative elections.
Instead, Hamas and Islamic Jihad now want to turn a ”unified leadership” into the real decision-making body, which would set policy, including negotiations with Israel. ”They want to inscribe in the charter of this leadership body the real power and decision-making,” Abu Amr said.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad “are thinking of a role that is commensurate with their power and representation on the ground,” he added.
Abbas has not said how he views such a demand. However, it appears unlikely he would agree because he would be signing away considerable powers. On the other hand, Abbas needs the support of the Islamic militants to govern and will be forced to make some concessions to them.
The terms of a ceasefire with Israel will also be discussed, Abu Amr said.
“We are talking about creating the conditions for presidential elections to take place and I don’t think you can have an election in this situation,” Abu Amr said, referring to the Israeli-Palestinian fighting.
The Palestinian leadership is also trying to control internal violence.
So far, four Palestinians are expected to run for president.
The main contender is Abbas, 69, the interim leader. Abbas is part of the old guard and has little popular support. However, the old guard still controls the movement’s decision-making bodies, and it is likely he will get the Fatah nomination.
His biggest challenge would come from Marwan Barghouti, 45, a former Fatah leader in the West Bank who is currently serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison for masterminding attacks on Israelis. Barghouti, according to polls the most popular politician after Arafat, is planning to run.
Palestinian billionaire Monib al-Masri, 66, is also considering a bid. However, Al-Masri has little political clout and is not connected to any factions. Another outside candidate is Abdel Sattar Qassem, a political science professor. Known for his fierce criticism of Arafat and his corrupt regime, Qassem holds militant views on Israel.
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