An interview with Palestiniaan PM Haniyeh

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday March 22, 2007 13:12 by MichaelY - iawm/ipsc

Political objectives of the National Unity Government

It’s been over a year since some European States, and of course the US, decided to cold-shoulder the newly elected Palestinian parliamentarians, introducing an outlandish political and economic boycott.
How are the Palestinians responding?

Ismail Haniyeh

Only a couple of days ago, the so-called ‘Quartet’, comprising spokespeople from the US, European Union, the United Nations and Russia, restated the continuation of the boycott and their three main conditions for lifting it and recognising the newly formed Palestinian National Unity Government:
(a) Full recognition of Israel’s ‘right to exist’,
(b) An end to armed struggle and violent resistance,. and,
(c) Recognition of all agreements entered by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the state of Israel since 1993.
Not surprisingly, the Quartet’s position was echoed on Monday 19th by UN General Secretary Bn Ki-moon who expressed “disappointment” with the new Palestinian Government.

The boycott and this oppositional policy however, encouraged and influenced by Israel as it is, is beginning to show serious strains. A number of Arab States, through the Arab League, are now openly supporting the new government, established following the ‘Mecca Agreement’ signed on March 8th. President Mahmood Abbas (Abu Mazen) of Fatah and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas are also beginning to receive cautious support from a number of European countries – not directly associated to the Quartet. The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs was in Gaza on Monday talking to Haniyeh, while encouraging noises have been emanating from Stockholm and Paris.

We are in a very sensitive juncture in the development of the Palestinian struggle, requiring utmost attention, solidarity and support. In this context, I thought it would be useful to distribute to all of you an interview by PM Haniyeh, speaking on behalf of the National Unity Government, taped on Tuesday March 20th.

Q: The Quartet and the European Union have made their position and their demands crystal clear. Do you, or the President, have any indication, or have you received any messages, that this position, that this boycott, is about to be lifted, even partially?
A: Yes, there have been a number of positive developments over he last couple of days. The French Government, for example, has invited Zia Abu Amr, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Paris. A number of other European Ministers of Foreign Affairs, like the Norwegian Minister for example, have either visited us in Gaza or are planning to come over during the next few days.
Q: What countries are you referring to Prime Minister?
A: (Laughs) Too early to make public announcements in this regard.
Q: Condoleezza Rice, referring to you personally Prime Minister, is one record saying: “Haniyeh insists that the Palestinians have a right to resist in a variety of and in all kinds of ways. This is not good, not good at all!” Any comments?
A: Resistance, which is part of our political platform, is guaranteed and fully legitimised as a full right of the oppressed by all international conventions and agreements. We are still, you know, under occupation and we have the absolute right to defend and protect ourselves until the occupation of our lands and people comes to an end. There is, however, and this is also well known, a ceasefire in place around Gaza. We want to extend this state of affairs to the entire occupied Palestinian territories. The ball, in this respect, is in the Israeli court.
Q: Prime Minister, we would also like your comment re:another recent development. Jacob Wallas, the US Consul in Jerusalem, met Salam Fayyad, the independent Minister of Finance of your government. Any views on that?
A: Washington needs to speak to all our ministers, to all of us, because we are the elected body of the entire Palestinian people. We are not against the opening of new channels of communication but we would not be in favour of a strategy attempting to divide us by creating ‘distinctions’ between ministers.
Q: Your government had its first full meeting on Sunday 18th. Could you tell us what kind of items were on the agenda and what was discussed and decided?
A: We have all agreed that we must focus on internal security [there have been 90 deaths as a result of in-fighting since last December – MY]. We have requested from our new Minister of the Interior to prepare and present to our next meeting a specific plan capable of responding adequately to this situation. The other ministers are also in the process of preparing action plans for our first 100 days in power.
Q: Prime Minister, some members of your own party Hamas have been very critical of you and your co-operation with Fatah – the previous Minister of the Interior Said Siam would be an example – he was excluded from the new Government. Others have been vociferous in their criticism of your decision to accept the nomination of Mohammed Dahlan, Abbas’ right-hand man, for the position of Head of National Security. Would you agree that your quest for unity with Fatah has not, at least not as yet, been universally accepted within Hamas?
A: I have been assured by Abu Mazen, our President, that each such controversial case, if and when it arises, would be discussed by us two, face-to-face, and hopefully resolved. Dialogue is our watchword right now.
Q: Does this mean that you are prepared to give President Abu Mazen a free hand in his attempts to negotiate with the Israeli State?
A: The political platform of the National Unity Government states clearly that the President has full political responsibility for the negotiation process. Any agreement reached as a result of that process, however, must be presented, discussed and voted on/ratified by our national parliament. There is also a provision that any significant such agreement would be put to a popular referendum. Each and every Palestinian woman and man, including all the refugees abroad, would have the right to vote on such a referendum.
Q: Are you really ready to accept that there is a definitive understanding, shall I say peaceful co-existence, between your party Hamas and Fatah?
A: Our political programme defines clearly our political objectives: we want to create an independent Palestinian state, with power over our entire pre-1967 territory and Jerusalem as our capital. We also want th right of return for all Palestinian refugees and the release of all Palestinian prisoners. These are our collective demands. Is Israel ready to play ball?
Q: Finally, do you consider the gradual development of Arab League support towards your government as a good background tool in your negotiations with Israel?
A: We have absolutely no problem with the position of our Arab brothers – it’s the Israelis that are worried in this respect – not us!!