Abbas's manoeuvres to stave off 'political death'

Al Ahram, here

"Mahmoud Abbas has deferred discussion for the formation of a new government until Abbas returns from a tour that will take him to Jordan, Syria and Russia. These plans have been delayed due to undisclosed differences with his Prime Minister Salam Fayyad...Reliable Palestinian sources told Al-Ahram Weekly that Abbas and Fayyad were at odds over the choice of proposed cabinet ministers.

The Fatah movement had nominated a number of its leaders from the West Bank for key positions in the new cabinet. However, Fayyad reportedly rejected most of nominees, calling them "non-conformists" and arguing that their inclusion in his government would cause "dysfunction and paralysis"....

"There is a growing opposition within Fatah to Fayyad remaining as prime minister. But I think the president will keep Fayyad due to international considerations," said Khatib, alluding to the international, especially American, backing of Fayyad....

"I can't really think of any logical justification for a new government. In my opinion, the president is just interested in taking something with him to Washington to impress President Obama. "But I think this a wrong and untimely move."

Khreisha said he thought Abbas should give the reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah more time to succeed. He also accused Fayyad and Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Yasser Abed Rabo of "opposing and dreading a Hamas-Fatah concordance." "We are talking about a prime minister with a single seat in the Palestinian parliament and a secretary-general of the PLO who has no followers in the Palestinian street. These two people feel they will lose if Fatah and Hamas succeed in ending their differences."

Earlier this week, Fatah official Nabil Shaath was quoted as saying that Hamas had accepted all Fatah's conditions with the exception of the clause pertaining to recognising Israel. Hamas strongly criticised plans to form a new government in Ramallah, labelling such plans as "divisive" and "reflecting ill will" and "a lack in sincerity about national dialogue"....

President Abbas is facing serious opposition within Fatah over failed peace talks with Israel. ... The dissolution by Abbas of the Preparatory Committee is already deepening the rift between the Palestinian leader's camp (often referred to as the Abbas-Dahlan camp) and veteran Fatah figures such as Farouk Qadoumi, Ahmed Qurei and Nasr Youssef..."