MIDDLE EAST: President Abbas dissolves Palestinian government, violence continues in Gaza

Record ID: 791445

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: President Abbas dissolves Palestinian government, violence continues in Gaza
  • Date: 15th June 2007
  • Summary: VIEW OF TELEVISION SHOWING HAMAS MILITANTS IN GAZA MAN WATCHING TELEVISION
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA365CTNYT3HZ5DXOYS7JHXNO70
  • Story Text: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed decrees dissolving the Palestinian government and declaring a state of emergency across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, an Abbas spokesman said on Thursday evening (June 15).
    "And based on the authority that we are permitted to work with and for achieving the interest of the public we have formulated the following: Dismissing the Prime Minister Mr. Ismail Haniyeh. Its required from all parties to adhere to this decree and work with it from its date of announcing and be published in the news papers. Issued in the city of Ramallah on June 14, 2007 Mahmoud Abbas president of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, President of the Palestinian Authority," said Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, secretary general of the presidency, reading a statement from Abbas.
    "Based on the seventh amendment of the original revised constitution for 2003 and its revision and based on the authorities that we are permitted to work with, and for achieving the public interest, we formulated the following: "We are declaring a state of emergency in all the Palestinian territories because of the criminal war in the Gaza strip and the occupying of the Palestinian Authority security headquarters and the military coup of the armed militias that are working outside the law of the Palestinian legislation," Abdel-Rahim added.
    Abbas's secular Fatah movement had formed a unity government with Haniyeh of the Islamist Hamas in March.
    Abbas's statement also indicated that he could call for early elections if the situation in the Palestinian territories stabilises.
    The next parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2010 and presidential elections are set for 2009. Palestinian lawmakers have argued whether Abbas can legally call for early elections.
    Palestinians in the West Bank city of Ramallah watched the announcement, and began to think about the repercussions.
    "We have moved backwards, What Abu Ammar did in 20 years (referring to Yasir Arafat), we have moved backwards another 50 years," Ramallah resident said.
    "In general its better for the president to dissolve the government, because the government is virtual and make decisions on virtual seats, not even ruling on themselves," another Ramallah resident added.
    Late in Ramallah, militants associated with Fatah led a rally at the Palestinian Legislative Council building.
    "Anyone from Hamas party is not allowed to enter (referring to the council)," one militant shouted.
    In Gaza it's payback time. Hamas militants are seeking out revenge on Fatah-linked militants and rivals. Victorious Hamas gunmen dragged the body of one of their main Fatah opponents through a refugee camp on Thursday.
    Several security officers loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction were fleeing Gaza City while other wondered for refugee inside town as Islamist Hamas death squads chased them from street to street.
    Hamas's armed wing said it had "executed" leading Fatah militant Samih al-Madhoun, who had previously broadcast a pledge to kill all members of the Islamist movement.
    A Hamas source said Madhoun, who had topped the group's wanted list of Abbas loyalists and had spearheaded Fatah's fight against Hamas, had been shot six times in the chest.
    Witnesses said Hamas supporters paraded his body through the streets of Nusseirat refugee camp.
    At least 30 people were killed as Hamas routed Fatah in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, capturing most major security compounds from Abbas's forces throughout the coastal territory.
    After the battles, Hamas men hunted down their foes, blowing up their houses and taking over buildings used by Fatah-run civilian organisations, witnesses said.
    Late in the evening, the Al-Suraya compound in Gaza City fell into Hamas militants' hands. The compound had been a centre of security operations for forces affiliated with Fatah.
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