To Abbas’ govt offer, Hamas says no point

“The suggestion by the Fatah Movement to (Hamas) join a national unity government was just raised in the media,” Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said.

“The Hamas movement will discuss any official offer, especially if this offer will create a source of authority for the Palestinian nation during this period, before the Zionist withdrawal from Gaza,” al-Masri added.

The Hamas leader also suggested establishing a national committee to supervise the evacuation process as it would be easier than forming a national unity government.

“The Hamas movement does not seriously consider the idea of joining the government, because we believe that there is a need to establish a national committee to oversee the withdrawal,” alMasri said.

He also criticised the ruling Fatah party’s central committee’s decision to delay elections until January 20 as harming the interest of the palestinian nation.

Earlier, a PA official said that Abbas had made an offer to the Islamist groups—including Hamas—to join the government before the implementation of the disengagement plan calling for the evacuation of Gaza and isolated settlements in the West Bank.

“Abu Mazen (nom de guerre for PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas) invited the armed groups to discuss the establishment of a national unity government whose main focus would be the Israeli withdrawal,” Samir al-Misharawi, a PA official said. —PTI

Gaza proposal rejected

Jerusalem: In a major boost to Israel PM Ariel Sharon’s Gaza pull-out plan, the Israeli Cabinet overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to postpone the withdrawal by three months. Eighteen members of Sharon’s coalition cabinet voted against the proposal put forward by Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz to delay the ’disengagement plan’ by three months. PTI