The New York Times reports:
Hamas committed today to folding its eight-month government if that would restore the international assistance that was cut off after it won national elections earlier this year.
In a shrewd and dramatic speech, the Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyah, said he would likely resign in the next “two or three weeks� to make way for a national unity government more acceptable to international donors than Hamas, the organization responsible for the deadliest attacks against Israel.
[…]
It was a public acknowledgment that Hamas had failed to run the Palestinian Authority on its own terms in the face of an American and Israeli-led cutoff of funds and aid, and that Mr. Haniya and his government would soon be replaced by a “unity� government of technocrats, currently being negotiated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
But:
At the same time, Mr. Haniyah said that Hamas would remain a key player that would never waver from principle. This raises the question of whether a new government would be any more palatable to donors than the current one.
“We will not compromise,� he told worshippers. “We are going ahead with a government that will not give political compromises.�
[…]
Even with a new government, it seems clear that Hamas intends to remain the driving political force: It holds a majority in the parliament, and its reported candidates to replace Mr. Haniyah all have deep connections to Hamas. Reportedly the choice of Mr. Haniyah’s successor is a major block holding up a final deal on a new government.
No matter how they try to spin it, this is / will be a major defeat for Hamas and organizations like it.
The policy of the International Community is, at least in this regard, working: extremist government will in no way receive help. With Democracy comes responsibility. The Palestinian people failed to take it.
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