The Palestinian government is calling for effective control of six sectors: security, crossings, land, tax collection, judiciary, and ministries, announced Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah.
"There can’t be two judiciary systems in the state...We want actual control of the crossings. Our presence there is symbolic; soldiers there don’t even carry weapons,” Hamdallah told reporters during a meeting in his office, which was attended by Asharq al-Awsat.
“Allow the minister to exercise his powers, and we are prepared to accommodate your staff gradually, we just want to count our staff first,” said the PM in an apparent reference to Hamas.
Hamdallah affirmed his commitment to what the factions agree on, hoping the tripartite Egyptian-Fatah-Hamas meeting in Cairo will bring an end to this issue. “But this is not certain,” he noted.
When asked about differences with Hamas, he explained: “I do not see a fundamental disagreement.”
Hamdallah addressed Hamas asking them to respond to demands and hand over control of Gaza Strip.
He rejected accusations that his government was targeting the resistance's weapons, asserting that "this issue is up to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)."
Hamdallah also denied any claims that he was punishing Gaza while admitting that, indeed, 50 percent of its public servants' salaries had been cut, confirming that these were temporary measures.
Since the division, the Palestinian government has paid Gaza about $17 billion, while Hamas is collecting taxes and not sending the revenues back to the government, said the Prime Minister. In addition, he complained the financial support for his government had fallen to only $500 million.
Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh has been appointed deputy prime minister and minister of information. Abu Rudeineh was sworn in by President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamdallah.
Hamas rejected this step, saying such changes send a negative message and are an indication of lack of credibility.
“Any reconciliation agreement must be submitted to a unity government and not to a Fatah cabinet,” said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
