International   

Hamas assumes office amid threats of isolation

Atul Aneja

Abbas swears in 24-member Cabinet, including one woman

DUBAI: The new Palestinian Government led by Hamas has assumed office amid growing threats of a financial boycott and political isolation by the United States, Europe and Israel.

The new Cabinet was sworn in by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza and his representative in the West Bank.

A travel ban imposed by Israel prevented the ceremony from taking place at a single venue. Consequently, the swearing-in formalities were coordinated "virtually" through a videoconference link.

The solemnities began with the incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, laying his hand on the Koran. "I swear by God to be loyal to the homeland, its holy places, people and its national heritage, and to respect the Constitution and the law, and uphold entirely the interests of the Palestinian people," he said.

Haniyeh's pledge

The other members of the 24-member Cabinet, including one woman and one Christian, were then sworn in. Mr. Haniyeh described his Government's oath-taking as "historic."

He pledged to work closely with Mr. Abbas, and called for talks with Israel. Israel, however, has rejected dealing with Hamas, as the Islamic group has not recognised it. The Hamas has also linked its renunciation of violence, to an Israeli pledge to vacate all occupied Palestinian territory.

With the Hamas showing no inclination so far to shift from its stand, it has begun to face enormous pressure from the U.S., the E.U. and Israel to back down. Threatening financial curbs, U.S. President George Bush said on Wednesday, "I think that aid should go to suffering Palestinians, but nor should it go to a Government, however, which has expressed its desire to destroy its neighbour."

The 25-nation E.U., the highest donor to the Palestinian Authority, has also warned it would be forced to slash some amount of aid, unless the new Palestinian Government altered course. Israel has already suspended disbursement of millions of dollars in monthly tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority after the Hamas emerged victorious in the Palestinian parliamentary elections.

Coalition talks

Israeli gunboats also shelled northern Gaza on Wednesday — the first such incident after Israel pulled out of the area last summer.

As the Hamas took office, leaders of the newly elected Kadima party in Israel, began informal discussions to form a new coalition government. The Kadima has declared its intent to finalise the borders between Israel and a future Palestinian State during its tenure. Kadima party officials were quoted as saying that they would wait for a year to see if the Hamas moderated its stance before going ahead with their plans.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

U.K. agencies let off the hook over blasts
Hamas assumes office amid threats of isolation
Fate of French labour law hangs in balance
Taylor behind bars in Sierra Leone
Noah's Ark in Holland
Shakespeare's First Folio on sale
Danish Muslims sue newspaper
Saran, Rice discuss nuclear deal
U.S. defends civilian nuclear deal with India
Howard: No immediate change in policy towards India
Hurriyat leader meets Pakistan Prime Minister
Tall tribute to luxury
China backs India's efforts on nuclear power

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu