News Analysis: Imminent reshuffle of Palestinian gov't may cause more feuds

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is considering to reshuffle the unity government soon, while officials believe that the move may increase severe feuds between Abbas' Fatah Party and its rival Hamas movement.

It was unveiled that Abbas informed members in Fatah Central Committee during a meeting held last week in Ramallah that he intends to reshuffle the unity government headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. He has already given the green light to him to do that soon.

Meanwhile, a senior official closed to the Palestinian presidency speaking on condition of anonymity told Xinhua that Hamdallah already started contacts, consultations and meetings with some important figures in a bid to convince them to join the government.

The decision of reshuffling the government came one week after deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa resigned for personal reasons. The consensus government was formed in June last year after Fatah and Hamas reached an understanding in Gaza.

When the government was formed, it was agreed between Fatah and Hamas that its mission was to unify the Palestinian official establishments and prepare for the general elections within six months. However, no progress had been accomplished in both areas till now.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip since 2007, criticized the government for neglecting the coastal enclave and refusing to pay the salaries of about 4,000 Hamas employees.

Meanwhile, the unity government complained that Hamas, which controls security in the Gaza Strip, didn't let the government to take its part and act normally, mainly by refusing to handover control of the crossing points with Israel and Egypt to the unity government.

"We formed the government in accordance with Hamas last year. But since this government cannot take its role and perform freely in the Gaza Strip, there is no unity government anymore," said Jamal Muheisen, a member in Fatah Party's central committee.

He said there is a necessity to reshuffle the government in order to reduce the burden for ministers who are in charge of more than one portfolio, adding "the reshuffle would be slight."

However, Muheisen said the reshuffling can only be decided by Abbas and Hamdallah, "but not related to any understanding or accordance with Hamas movement." Apparently, the government's reshuffle won't be coordinated with Hamas.

Zeyad Zaza, a high-ranking Hamas leader, told Xinhua that his movement opposes any reshuffle of the unity government without consultation with its leadership, adding "any reshuffle means an end to this government and a new unity government."

"Basically we refuse Abbas' vision in making a slight reshuffle here or there without consultation or agreement with Hamas. The current unity government has done nothing to the Gaza Strip since the very first day after it was formed," said Zaza.

Zaza and other Hamas officials believe that instead of reshuffling the current unity government, a broader government should be established. "There has to be a larger national unity government that includes real technocrat ministers," said him.

The senior Hamas official threatened that his movement has other alternatives for the current situation, adding "our choices and options are so many if there will be no positive solutions come from the current government."

The growing disputes between the two major Palestinian rivals coincided with the visit of Prime Minister Hamdallah to the Gaza Strip ten days ago. During the visit, he agreed with Hamas officials to form a joint committee to work on resolving all problems concerning the Gaza Strip.

The committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Zeyad Abu Amro, held a series of meetings but hasn't reached any agreement. However, Ma'moon Abu Shahla, minister of work in the unity government, told Xinhua that there is an agreement not to speak in details before reaching a final agreement.

Representing Hamas in the joint committee, Zaza said: "we held a series of frank and deep dialogues to find solutions to all the problems in the Gaza Strip, but unfortunately, until now we haven't agreed on anything and we still wait for the answer comes from Ramallah." Endit