The Palestinian Unity Government: A review of the Arab Press

This is a very limited review. There is nothing from Saudi Arabia for example. But even this limited selection exhibits at least some of the criticism emanating from "moderate" Arab states. Saudi Arabia is no doubt even more incensed since the Saudis were instrumental in aiding the deal which was negotiated in Mecca.


Review of the Arab press
AMMAN, Jordan, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Arab press roundup for Feb. 19:


The London-based al-Quds al-Arabi said Monday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will find himself in a serious crisis on the internal Palestinian front, as well as with the United States and globally. The independent Palestinian-owned daily said it appears Israel and Washington share the same conditions imposed on the incoming new Palestinian national unity government to restart the peace negotiations. The paper reported that Israeli and U.S. leaders were clear when they said they would not recognize the new Palestinian government unless it explicitly meets the conditions of the Quartet committee for peace. The daily added it was certain this government will not accept the American-Israeli conditions in recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and the previous accords, since they were not mentioned in Abbas' letter of designation to Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas. "We fear that President Abbas will come under such pressure and indirectly retreat from forming a national unity government by placing obstacles," it said. The paper insisted that Abbas' "body language" during his meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ramallah Sunday indicates "he prefers to be a partner with America rather than with Hamas, and the coming days will determine this."


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Egypt's al-Ahram said in its editorial it hoped that Rice's current tour of the region is meant to discuss resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and not an attempt to gather support for the U.S. policy on Iraq and Iran. The daily stressed that instead of going around in circles, the United States and Israel should not prejudge the next Palestinian government before it sees its nature and behavior, especially that it will include independent prominent figures who enjoy international respect. "The Palestinian people have the right to choose who should rule, so long as they abide by the law and international charters," as well as previous agreements regarding the peace process. At the same time, it said, the Palestinian factions should behave responsibly to protect their achievements and to avoid giving Israel pretexts to continue assaulting the Palestinians on the grounds of self-defense. The daily said it hoped Rice's separate meetings Sunday with Olmert and Abbas has achieved something that could ensure the success of their three-way summit in Jerusalem Monday.


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Jordan's al-Ghad said in a commentary the U.S. administration is clearly unhappy over the Palestinian agreement to form a national unity government and that is why Olmert agreed with President George W. Bush to boycott it if it does not explicitly recognize Israel. The independent daily noted that Rice declared three conditions on the Palestinian government, saying the U.S. administration is being "creative in dictating to the Palestinians without justifications." It argued the Mecca agreement between the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah rivals tacitly confirms recognition of the previous agreements and international legitimacy. "What alternative does the American administration suggest?" it asked, insisting that Abbas cannot form a government without Hamas because it holds the overwhelming majority in the elected legislature and he succeeded in persuading it to commit to the peace process instead of early elections. "The only alternative is a coup d'état on democracy and a civil war. Is that what the American administration wants?" it said. The mass-circulation paper said it is clear the Mecca agreement is good, secures internal peace, protects the truce with Israel and ensures against obstructing the peace process with Israel; so when America takes a negative position towards this progress, "the only thing that we can say to it (U.S.) is go to hell!" It complained the Bush administration has weakened itself a great deal in the region by ignoring the advice of the moderate Arab countries on Iraq, "and it is now disregarding the efforts of this camp." It urged the moderate Arab countries to speak firmly to America and to support the next national unity Palestinian government by lifting the sanctions on it, adding the U.S. administration does not deserve to be taken into consideration so long as it continues to support the Israeli position all the time.


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Syria's official daily Tishreen stated it is strange that Israel wants the Palestinians to heed to international demands while it considers the Quartet terms to be nothing more than ink on paper and was never committed to them in the first place. The state-run paper added in a commentary the pre-conditions declared by Olmert and Rice Sunday on the Palestinian government are "impossible" because Israel has proven after its interim Oslo accords with the Palestinians that it is not even serious in holding negotiations. In addition, it argued, the current U.S. administration only executes what Israel wants; "and this Israel has an aggressive plan as it plays with time to consolidate its occupation." The paper opined that Israel, with U.S. cooperation, invent pre-conditions to close all doors for a durable solution to the Palestinian problem and offer partial solutions that "quickly clash with the occupation's measures, which the Palestinians are blamed for." It insisted that America is only serious towards Israel and they divide their roles in "implementing the aggressive, colonialist schemes in the region."


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