Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 16, 2007

Israel Calls Proposed Palestinian Unity Government a 'Step Backward'
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=16AC7FA:A6F02AD83191E160539C25192219B47E9574F7DCC14957C0 Proposed new
national unity government would have ruling Islamic militant group
Hamas share power with rival and more moderate Fatah faction
Palestinians have finalized an agreement on a national unity
government, in which the ruling Islamic militant group Hamas agreed to
share power with the rival and more moderate Fatah faction. But as
Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Israel has
criticized the deal.







Palestinian PM Ismail Hanieyh, right, talks to Azzam al-Ahmed, head of
Fatah's parliament bloc, and designated deputy prime minister, at his
office in Gaza City, 15 Mar 2007Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas
presented the list of ministers in his new cabinet to Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, concluding the formation of a new
coalition.

Mr. Haniyeh announced that the cabinet will be presented to the
Palestinian parliament for approval on Saturday. He said he is
optimistic that the government "will open a new era."

The agreement caps months of grueling negotiations between Hamas and
Fatah, and both sides hope it will end factional fighting that has
raised fears of civil war.

They also hope it will end international sanctions that have crippled
the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.

But the platform of the new government makes no mention of two key
international conditions for lifting the boycott: renunciation of
violence and recognition of Israel. Hamas, which seeks the destruction
of the Jewish state, says recognition is not on the table.

Therefore, Israel says the new government is a major "step backward"
and harms the prospects for peace. Israel sees Mr. Abbas as a moderate
and a peace partner, but spokesman Mark Regev says his alliance with
Hamas is a setback.

"If you engage with unreformed extremists, if you give legitimacy to
people who are against peace, you are in fact acting against those
Palestinian moderates who do want peace, who do want to see a better
Middle East," he said.

Israel plans to lobby the international community to boycott the new
government and keep sanctions in place.

But Palestinian officials say Israel's position is counterproductive.
They are urging Israel and western nations to drop their conditions
and deal with the new government.




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