GAZA, 5 July 2005 — Hamas yesterday rebuffed an invitation to join the Palestinian Cabinet, snubbing President Mahmoud Abbas who wants a unity government to help him control Gaza after Israel’s pullout.
Abbas, facing public pressure to curb growing lawlessness in Palestinian areas, last week offered a place for armed groups in his government to foster a smooth evacuation of Israeli settlers from the occupied territory due to begin in mid-August.
“Forming a unity government at this late time will not be useful,” said Hamas spokesman Mushir Al-Masri.
He said Hamas had not yet made a formal decision, but considered the invitation a ploy to avoid a commitment to hold quick elections for Parliament in which Hamas is poised to mount a serious challenge to Abbas’ Fatah movement. Bringing in Hamas, a grassroots organization commanding considerable sway in the Gaza Strip, would help Abbas keep order during the pullout and avoid a security vacuum afterward.
Islamic Jihad rejected the proposal outright.
