GAZA CITY, 1 December 2006 — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that talks with Hamas over the formation of a national unity government have reached a deadlock. He said this after a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the West Bank city of Jericho.
“Unfortunately we have reached a dead end,” Abbas said during a joint press conference with Rice. However, he said further discussion was needed before he decided to take the next step. Palestinian sources said Abbas will take important decisions in the next two days. Such steps could include firing the Hamas government or holding a referendum on whether to go to early elections. Whatever the choice, it would deepen the internal Palestinian conflict and could ignite more violence.
“For eight or nine months, the Palestinian people have gone without salaries, but unfortunately we have not reached an agreement... This is very painful for us.” Abbas added.
Since taking power in March, Hamas has refused to accept Western demands that it recognize the Jewish state and renounce violence leading to an aid boycott that has devastated the Palestinian economy.
The Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, denied the talks were in trouble. In a visit to Cairo, he said the negotiations had reached their “final destination,” and that only details needed to be worked out. Haniyeh and Abbas have been at odds over who should control key Cabinet ministries, such as interior and finance.
In Jericho, Rice praised Abbas’ efforts and said that Washington wants to intensify efforts to renew the peace process and to extend the scope of a recently declared cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians.
Later, Rice met in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert. Earlier yesterday, Rice accompanied US. President George W. Bush during morning sessions concerning Iraq in nearby Amman.
