A national unity government for Palestinians is essential, but it must be built around clear principles, writes Ibrahim Nafie Hamas and Fatah have agreed to form a government of national unity with an agenda that endorses national reconciliation. Cabinet members have handed their resignations to Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh who is expected to pass them over to President Mahmoud Abbas within days. The future of the Palestinian issue hinges on the formation of such a government. A government of national unity will serve as the cornerstone of the Arab League's bid to have the UN Security Council launch a new peace mechanism involving a clear timetable. The formation of a government of national unity will help restore order on the domestic scene. It would also help end the international boycott in place since Hamas took office. Europe may finally change its mind and the Americans may follow. Israel would have no reason to claim that the Palestinian government is not recognising the Oslo Accords. Israel has used that claim to harass the Palestinians through various measures including the suspension of funds due to the Palestinian Authority. Israel has been implementing unilateral plans on the pretext that no Palestinian partner exists. And yet the future government must be clear on the principles guiding its actions. Fatah and Hamas say that national reconciliation will be the basis of their agenda, but the document that sets out what national reconciliation entails allows for many, even contradictory, interpretations. One is justified to fear that each side will hold on to one interpretation and thereby undermine and impede the general process. Also, there has been some controversy over the formation of the new cabinet. Some have even questioned the wisdom of Ismail Haniyeh continuing as prime minister. Is it better for someone from Fatah, or another Palestinian faction, or a technocrat, to serve as prime minister? After all, it is the programme that matters, not the individuals. The new government, we are told, will not be negotiating with Israel. This is an acceptable way out of the crisis caused by Hamas's refusal to recognise Israel. Since the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) has recognised Israel and conducted negotiations with it in the past, it makes perfect sense for the PLO to pursue this mission to the end. But on what basis will negotiations take place? And what kind of solution will be acceptable to the Palestinian government? Assigning the PLO to run the negotiations is helpful only in the short term. Sooner or later, the government will have to take a stand on the outcome of negotiations. Sooner or later, the government would have to agree to a political settlement, most likely one involving an independent Palestinian state within the pre- 1967 lines. Fatah already agrees to such a solution, but what about Hamas? So far, Hamas's programme still speaks of the liberation of the entirety of Palestine, from the river to the sea. I am not calling on Hamas to change its programme. That is the kind of thing Hamas and other Palestinian factions should be discussing. All I am trying to say is that the new government must have a strong and clear objective. It must have a programme that is clear and consistent with international law. Otherwise, we'll be back to square one. Israel, we all know, would be quite pleased to see Europe and the US shunning the new government. It's good to see the Palestinian putting their house in order, and let me add that Palestinian policies should be freed from all Arab and non-Arab pressures. Palestinian policies should be made in total independence from the policies of other countries in the region. Once this is achieved, Arab countries and the Arab League will be in a position to ask the UN to salvage the peace process and correct its flawed path.
