Rumors abound on Unity Government makeup
Its semi-official: the individuals have been chosen, the dates have been set. But not official word yet from either the Quartet or Israel.
Everyone in Gaza is waiting anxiously for this miracle plan of all plans that is supposed to save Gaza from its ultimate spiral towards self-destruction to unfold.
According to my father, a lot of nail-biting in anticpation of the official unveiling. Haniya is meant to give a nation-wide talk tommorow (Tuesday) evening upon his return from Mecca (incidentally, a great article was published by Amira Hass in Haaretz a few days ago on how Fateh officials were given the VIP treatment out of the West Bank en route to Mecca, while Hamas officials were purposefully delayed and harassed, and how this is official state policy to "ease burdens" Fateh VIPs..hmm).
Anyway, rumours abound about who will fill what Ministerial slot. My father says he's heard that Fateh thu..er strongman, Mohammad Dahalan, will fill the post of "deputy PM" to give him a taste of the power he worships, but sort of "keep him in check".
"But isn't that just giving him what he wants?" I asked
"At this point, its not as important who is in what position as it is that they actually get a unity government done so people can live their lives…we’ve seen some very black days in Gaza over the past weeks…
Apparently, the makeup of the new cabinet will include 4 independents (al-Mubadara's Mustapha Barghouthi a likely contender here), 5 from other parties (PFLP, DFLP, etc.), 9 Hamas, 6 Fateh.
Minister of Finance: The Third Way's Salaam Fayyad
Minister of Interior: Not sure the name but someone to replace Saeed Siyam, also from Hamas
Foreign Affairs: Ziyad Abu Amr
Deputy Prime Minister: Dahalan
posted by Laila @ Monday, February 12, 2007
19 Comments:
Salam, Mrs. El-Haddad
I once read of an account of a man in Iraq who was stopped in his car and arrested by American military personnel. He and his car were taken to a facility where he was questioned and held for hours. Upon release he was told not to stop anywhere but drive straight home. On his way home he suspected that something wasn’t right. He stopped, opened the trunk and found that it had been packed with explosives. A timing detonator had been attached.
Who could benefit from the continued sectarian violence caused by the “Resistance terrorists”?
Is there anything that Hamas and Fateh should keep in mind considering how the apartheid terror
state regards them?
how i can subscribe to recieve new posts?
Salam Alaikum, Laila. My name is Miriam, and I live in jerusalem (on the west side, of course). I read about you in "Ha'aretz" today. Where can I find your email address?
You write beautifully and have a beautiful child!
I got the link to your blog from "Ha'aretz" newspaper, which published an article about it.
I have a friend in Gaza whom I can't meet. I met her when she was in an Israeli hospital with her grandchild, who was severely injured during an Israeli bombing.
My heart goes out to this woman, her grandchild and their family.
My heart goes out to all in Gaza and the West Bank and to all those scattered across the world, who cannot return to their homeland.
Keep up the good work!
What dud you want to say yesterday? and why?
Do you support the HAMMAS government or not?
Mor
Laila, first: I don't think Dahalan is asprinig to serve under Hamas PM, he wants to be the man on the top; secondly I think it will be near impossible that Hamas will agree on Dahalan as deputy of Haniya (it just makes them real hypocrites, they're bashing him and dubbing him as the leader of coup orchestrators all days and nights until just couple of days before Makka meeting)... I am pretty sure that Dahalan is still and will always be plotting and planning to get rid of Hamas, that's his long term goal, because they're the only ones in his way to complete authority, which is what he is aspiring for...
I really hope this unity government will not be another false dawn for the people of Gaza, and it leads to an improvement in the humanitarian situation and an end to the sanctions.
Dave (Dublin, Ireland)
I’m Israeli who leaves in London, may I tell you my view about whets going on, you are taking your governments too curiously, and one day our kids will look back and will say how stupid their parents were taking all the stupidity the Israeli and Palestinian governments are feeding us.
Young people all over the world leave together now, in London Israelis and Arabs going out at night to restaurants and club and don’t care any more about this old school nationalism that drive the Israelis and Palestinians to this destructive situation, I hope the internet will open people eyes and they finally understand that its not about being an Israeli or Palestinian its about taking care for your personal responsibility to your life and your family and not taking care of corrupted governments that under the name of god and nationalism sucking other people blood.
Laila - I was so pleased that Haaretz introduced me to your blog today. I am a documentary filmmaker in the US; I will be in Durham in April. How can I email you?
Dear Daniel, other:
thank you so much for stopping by!
My email is in my "complete profile":
laila.elhaddad@gmail.com
Sami: my thoughts precisely. he will never settle for deputy.
Dear Laila,
I've followed your blog for some time now --- really liked the Ha'aretz article. Thanks for your thoughtful and moving observations. Blessings to you and your family....
Jess
Hi Laila,
Thank you for this wonderful blog. It is heartbreaking for me to read of how badly the people of Gaza have been failed by the international community. There is absolutely no possible excuse for the barbarism of locking more than a million people into prison conditions -- for the crime of voting! Mish maqoul. Unbelievable.
I am an American, and I lived in the West Bank for a year and a half and visited Gaza twice. The people of Gaza are some of the kindest I have ever met, and my many months in Ramallah were so much fun (aside from the Israeli raids and closures). If not for the violence, Palestine would be one of the best places on earth to raise children, and my thoughts are with you and Yousuf and your family.
It has been terrible and shameful watching 2006 unfold from over here (and the war against Lebanon last summer nearly killed a Beiruti ex-boyfriend of mine and did kill the cousin of another friend of mine from southern Lebanon). I hope for better things in 2007. Insha'Allah khair.
Pamela
http://www.pamolson.org
Hello Laila:
We met at Rafah Border once waiting for endless hours to have the border open but it never did. I remember your son,Yousuf was shouting please open Al-Ma3bar ( the crossing).
I like your blog because it is honest,pure and reflects first hand experience. I still do not understand why Israel still closes the Palestenian-Egyptian crossing after the disengagement, and still talking about democracy !!!
this is by far the most interesting blog i've come upon in ages. thanks for writing!
Louis Aragon wrote: "La Femme est l'avenir de l'Homme". Well done Laila, keep bloggin' !!
Male anonymous
Hi Laila
Do you know that you are nominated for the best africa/middle-east blog?
http://2007.bloggies.com/
Thank you, Laila, for continuing to provide your insights and those of the people posting their comments as well.
Balance is very difficult to come by in the media and I am glad that al-Jazeera has individuals like you providing well-written stories about Palestine and the Palestinians.
Your blog gives the background needed to help understand the full picture.
John
Time magazine (via CNN's website) is now reporting this arrangement as a "win" for Hamas. They are also reporting that Mohammad Dahalan is no longer in the frame as deputy premier.
Do you have any view on this being a "win" for Hamas, and does having Dahalan out of the picture improve the probability of success?
I am not sure who is winning anything here except the US and Israel who seem to really want to maintain Gaza and the West Bank in a constant state of turmoil.
John
Laila,
I'm a new follower of your blog from the UK.
I much prefer your insights into the political situation than those from the newspapers.
Keep safe and know that you and your boy are in our thoughts and prayers.
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