BICOM

After two days of talks in Cairo over the establishment of a Palestinian unity government, Fatah and Hamas have reportedly agreed on the composition of the new cabinet and the major outlines of the deal. However, while Fatah officials sounded upbeat regarding the chances of speedy political progress toward a unified government, Hamas spokesmen struck a more militant tone. Hamas official Mahmoud a-Zahar said that contrary to the statements made by Hamas Political Bureau Director Khaled Mashal in his Cairo speech earlier this month, the group’s leadership in Gaza had no intention of giving Abu Mazen any leeway to negotiate with Israel. He said that there was no change in Hamas’s position on the use of terror, and that “resistance is the only way of coping with Israel.” According to the statement, Hamas’s military wing, Izz A-Din El-Qassam Brigades, will not be disbanded and will not be ordered by the central Palestinian government, but retain its autonomy and continue to act against Israel.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership is already facing international pressure. Leading Republicans in the US Congress called for an end to American funding of a unity Palestinian government. In forming the new government, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will have to take into account the risk of international condemnation and possible cuts to international aid. Although the Palestinian leadership has vowed to form a government of non-affiliated technocrats, it has already been reported that PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who enjoys strong international support for his state building effort, may be replaced. Fayyad’s departure will be a major setback that will significantly diminish Palestinian credibility around the world.