Bethlehem - Ma'an – The head of the political office for the Hamas movement, Khaled Mash'al, has assured that a technocratic government would not be suitable for the Palestinian arena, that the Hamas movement will not fall and no one is allowed to harm the Hamas legitimacy.
He pointed to the imminent formation of the Palestinian government. He denied that the consultations over its formation had ceased or been suspended, and described the ongoing negotiations as 'positive'.
In a press conference during his visit to Cairo, Mash'al said, of the captive Israeli soldier, Corporal Gil'ad Shalit, 'We have come a long way, however, the decisiveness of the issue is not related to us, and we are not the reason the deal is postponed. The delay is due to the indecisiveness of the other party,' he stated, meaning Israel. He stressed the necessity for the release of Palestinian prisoners, before the release of the captured Israeli soldier.
When questioned on the new Palestinian government, he declared: 'Hamas does not hinder the formation of a Palestinian government.' He asked each party to 'bear their responsibilities', and he valued the role of Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi.
Mash'al attributed the delay in forming the unity government to three reasons: '(i) Unclear international guarantees over lifting the siege of the Palestinian people, (ii) exerting pressure for the future government to be composed purely of technocrats, and (iii) associating the dialogue with the issue of the captured Israeli soldier and appeasement.'
The Hamas official stressed their rejection of a purely technocratic government, which according to the Hamas leadership, is inappropriate to the Palestinian arena 'because the Palestinian people are politicized'.
Mash'al also described the intended government as a significant political development in the region, 'which will pave the way for a real political settlement and a shift in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Every party will have their opportunity, over 6 months, to crystallize an initiative and political vision, based on the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 4th of June 1967 borders, which all Palestinian factions approved in the national agreement accord.'
According to Mash'al, the absence of a political vision within a further six months after the composition of the unity government, will only lead to strengthening Hamas and the resistance, along with the collapse of the Palestinian Authority. 'This will lead to a third intifada leaving the conflict with the Israeli occupation widely open'.
In conclusion, Mash'al applauded the decision by the Arab leaders in Cairo and Jeddah to break the economic blockade of the Palestinian people.