Hamas Would Keep Fatah Out of Palestinian Cabinet [View All]

Hamas Would Keep Fatah Out of Palestinian Cabinet

By STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: March 17, 2006
JERUSALEM, March 17 — The leaders of the Islamic group Hamas said today that it would propose a new Palestinian cabinet consisting of Hamas and independent figures, with the participation of no other party. Hamas said it expected to give the list to the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, on Saturday after Mr. Abbas's Fatah faction announced, as expected, that it would not participate.

Mr. Abbas may yet reject the new government's program, because it does not explicitly acknowledge the validity of past agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization or support negotiations with Israel. But it is not clear what consequences such a rejection would have in an untested political situation for the Palestinians.
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"Our fate is to combine resistance and politics, but resistance remains the basis and politics only a branch," said Mr. Meshal. "Being in power is only a means to an end for Hamas. Power is not our ultimate goal. If it becomes one, let power go to hell. It will not hold us back from our targets which we hold dear."

Mr. Meshal, who is based in Damascus, was speaking at a memorial gathering on Thursday night. "We and the Zionists have a date with destiny," he said. "If they want a fight, we are ready for it. If they want a war, we are the sons of war. If they want a struggle, we are for it to the end. We have more stamina than Israel and will defeat it, God willing."
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