Hamas does not want to be seen as having recognized the Oslo Accords or
Israel’s right to exist by agreeing to the formation of a unity government
with Abbas’s Fatah faction.

Hamas, Fatah feud over political platform of gov't
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH The Jerusalem Post 02/19/2012 19:45
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=258483

A dispute has erupted between Hamas and Fatah over the political platform of
a Palestinian unity government, Palestinian sources reported Sunday.

The dispute came as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas
leader Khaled Mashaal made preparations to hold another meeting in Cairo
later this week to discuss the formation of a unity government and the
implementation of the recent Qataribrokered reconciliation agreement between
the two sides.

On Saturday during a meeting in Ramallah, Abbas told the Italian
consul-general in Jerusalem that a Palestinian unity government, which would
be established under the terms of the Qatari-brokered deal, would abide by
the PLO’s political program.

Abbas said that the unity government would also honor all agreements that
were signed between the PLO and Israel, including the Oslo Accords.

Under the terms of the reconciliation deal, the unity government would be
headed by Abbas and its main mission would be to prepare for presidential
and parliamentary elections and rebuild the Gaza Strip.

Abbas’s statements about the political agenda of the unity government drew
sharp criticism from Hamas, whose leaders rushed Sunday to deny the PA
president’s remarks.

Hamas does not want to be seen as having recognized the Oslo Accords or
Israel’s right to exist by agreeing to the formation of a unity government
with Abbas’s Fatah faction.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri emphasized that the proposed unity government
“would have nothing to with Abbas’s political program, which we
categorically reject.”

He stressed that Hamas remained opposed to negotiations with Israel or to
making concessions on Palestinian rights, first and foremost the “right of
return” for millions of Palestinian refugees to their former villages inside
Israel.

Abu Zuhri said that contrary to Abbas’s statements, the unity government
would be a temporary government with no political platform.

Ismail Radwan, another Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, said that only an
elected government would decide on political matters in the future,
including the peace process with Israel.

“The [unity] transitional government’s task would be restricted to
rebuilding the Gaza Strip and preparing for elections,” Radwan said. “After
we hold elections, the new elected government will decide on its future
steps in the political arena.”

In response, top Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmed reiterated that the unity
government would abide by the PLO’s political program despite Hamas’s
opposition. However, he added that the new government would not deal with
political issues.