Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya last Saturday pledged to expose the full extent of last week’s Israeli massacre at Beit Hanoun of 19 mainly women and children, he then went on to review progress on a Palestinian government of national unity.
He said: ‘We will work on bringing judges and will facilitate the mission of investigating this massacre if the US Administration does not agree in the Security Council to form an international investigation committee according to a UN resolution.’
He added: ‘As for the dialogues to form a (Palestinian) national unity government, I say that these dialogues are successful and my meetings with the president are fruitful and we have set the bases and foundations for forming a national unity government.
‘The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas; the government, and myself have always affirmed that we support the choice of a national unity government.
‘This has been our initiative in the first place, and since there have been changes in the positions of the brothers and forces in favour of forming and participating in a national unity government, we welcome this direction and affirm that the Palestinian situation requires everybody to shoulder the responsibility.
‘Once again I say that when the parties which are imposing the siege on the Palestinian people set their vision for dealing with the coming government and the lifting of the siege, we depended with regard to forming a national unity government on a philosophy and a goal represented by breaking this siege of the Palestinian people.
‘We want to end this unjust siege of the Palestinian people in order to end the suffering for the sake of our homeland, cause, people, plan of liberation, and to entrench national unity, end internal frustration, protect elements of the internal Palestinian force, keep the people engaged in their battle of ending the occupation, curb internal Palestinian conflicts, and prevent foreign interferences in the Palestinian affair which is why we have accepted to form a national unity government.
‘I said that if the Palestinian premiership for the Americans, the Europeans, and others is what prevents ending the siege of the Palestinian people, then the premier will step aside so that the ship of the Palestinian people would move forward with us on board.
‘We shall remain in the field and in official posts so that we would shoulder the responsibility of the Palestinian people together.
‘We will not give up our people, cause, or responsibilities. We shall not stop loving Palestine, Al-Aqsa, and Jerusalem.
‘We can relinquish the chair and official posts because our hearts don’t love official posts but love Palestine, Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa, the refugees, and God.
‘For this reason, we agreed that dialogue among the forces and factions would be resumed next week – between the brothers in Hamas and Fatah and the other factions – to make the arrangements for forming the government.
‘I hope that we would be able within two to three weeks to end this issue, God willing, so that we would announce to the Palestinian People the entrenchment of national unity through a national unity government based on the prisoners’ document which later became known as the National Accord Document which upholds Palestinian rights and principles and on this path we shall proceed, God willing.’
Haniya was asked if this meant that dialogue, discussions, and previous differences between himself and President Abbas are over, and that the matter is now in the hands of factions?
He replied: ‘I can say that dialogue has shed light on controversial issues and helped find middle ground on these issues, God willing.’
He added: ‘I would like to say that today I heard reports from media agencies and internet sites about the nomination of certain people for premiership posts and that some names were rejected or changed, whereas other names are being considered for this post.
‘My brothers, all that you heard is baseless. I have not submitted any names, neither the four names that were mentioned today nor the names mentioned earlier.
‘I and the president have reached a consensus on this matter.
‘We agreed that as long as we seek a project aimed at breaking the siege, consolidating unity, protecting the national project, and safeguarding Palestinian rights and constants, then this issue will be open for discussion.
‘I hope that we had tackled all the files related to the formation of a national unity government.’
Pressed to say if he is not a nominee for the premiership post, then who is, Haniya said: ‘If I am not the next prime minister, then there will be another prime minister.’
He was reminded that the Americans and the Europeans set a condition for ending the siege – that is that he step down, and asked would there be other concessions.
Haniya stressed: ‘I would like to say that this is not a concession.
‘If a person takes a step or makes a decision for the sake of his people and his cause, then it should not be considered a concession.
‘On the contrary, this is sacrifice. It is our children, women, and elderly people who are sacrificing their blood and souls.
‘Is one’s post dearer than this? No, it is not dearer than this. There are no concessions.
‘The formation of the new government will be basically based on the National Accord Document.
‘We have reached middle ground on all matters related to this issue. I reassure you that everyone will be happy, God willing, and that nothing will harm Palestinian rights.
Asked what guarantee he had received on lifting the siege, Haniya said: ‘After sometime, I will deliver a comprehensive statement and a comprehensive speech to the Palestinian people to address all these details, God willing.’
On the ‘Arab initiative’, he added: ‘We talk about a National Accord Document and – we have managed to reach the middle ground on all controversial issues.
‘I would like to say that there are no problems between us and our Arab brethren.
‘The problem facing the Arab Initiative has nothing to do with the Palestinians or the government, but rather with the Israelis who refused to deal with the initiative?
‘And when the Beirut Summit adopted this initiative, Sharon decided to reoccupy the West Bank.
‘The Arabs have no problems with us. There are no problems between us and our Arab brethren.
‘We say to our Arab brethren: “If you want a Palestinian state on the 1967 border and you can achieve that, then we will agree”.’
