Israel’s prime minister denounces Palestinian unity deal

On April 23, Palestinian leaders in Fatah and Hamas announced a surprise unity deal, pledging to work together to set up an interim government of political independents - a move that has angered Israel.

Israeli soldiers detain a protester during a demonstration by Palestinians protesting against the Israeli-built West Bank separation barrier and calling for the right of return for Palestinian refugees, in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem on May 31, 2014. Nasser Ishtayeh/AP PhotoShow less

JERUSALEM // Three future Palestinian ministers from the Gaza Strip were stopped from entering the West Bank on Sunday as the Israeli prime minister called on world leaders to not recognise a Palestinian unity government.

The moves appeared to aimed at punishing the Palestinians, who are expected to unveil the government today, the first of its kind in seven years.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said Israel had informed him it would cut all ties with his incoming interim government.

Mr Abbas also said that the Palestinians would respond to every punitive step taken by Israel in respect to the new government.

The three ministers elect had applied to cross from Gaza to the West Bank on Thursday, but their application was immediately rejected, a Palestinian official responsible for coordinating exits and entries said.

“We sent the application in on Thursday and explained that these officials are to be sworn in as ministers in Ramallah, but Israel immediately rejected the application,” he said.

Israeli public radio reported that the chief of Israel’s border security had vetoed the request, without saying why.

On April 23, Palestinian leaders in Fatah and Hamas announced a surprise unity deal, pledging to work together to set up an interim government of political independents.

But Israel immediately called a halt to crisis-hit peace talks, vowing it would never talk to any government backed by Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu said the unity government will “strengthen terrorism” because Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel.

“The international community must not embrace it,” Mr Netanyahu said.

Mr Abbas has said such fears are unfounded, vowing that the government will be comprised entirely of apolitical technocrats and will recognise Israel and renounce violence.

“Israel wants to punish us for agreeing with Hamas on this government,” Mr Abbas said on Saturday.

He said Israeli officials had informed him that the Netanyahu administration would “boycott the government the moment it is announced”.

“Each Israeli step will have a proper Palestinian response. We will take everything step-by-step, we will not be the ones to react first.”

He appeared to be alluding to Palestinian intentions to seek further recognition for their promised state in the international diplomatic arena.

Such moves were put on hold for nearly all of the nine-month US-led peace talks, which collapsed in late April, but resumed after Israel blocked the promised release of two-dozen veteran Palestinian prisoners.

The new government, which will pave the way for long-overdue legislative and presidential elections, will be led by Rami Hamdallah, who is currently serving as prime minister in the West Bank administration.

The government is meant to end the seven-year split between Hamas and Fatah. While Hamas will not sit in the government, it has agreed to back it.

The Palestinians have been divided between rival governments since Hamas took the Gaza Strip from Mr Abbas’ forces in June 2007, leaving the Palestinian president only in control of autonomous areas of the West Bank.

The rift is considered a major impediment to any future peace deal.

Repeated attempts at reconciliation have failed in the past. But both Palestinian factions now have incentives to finally repair ties. Hamas is in the middle of a major financial crisis because of a blockade imposed by Israel and the Egyptian government.

Mr Abbas, meanwhile, is eager to reconcile following the collapse of the latest round of US-brokered peace talks with Israel in late April. Convinced that he cannot reach peace with Netanyahu, the Palestinian leader believes now is the time to get internal Palestinian affairs in order.

* Agence France-Presse with additional reporting by Associated Press