Warming up for Hamas

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 02/02/06

The EU this week looked for the first signs of transformation from Hamas, following the Islamist group's overwhelming victory in Palestinian legislative elections.

EU officials are saying the period before the formation of the new government - expected to be around three months - is crucial for assessing Hamas's intentions.

On Monday (30 January) the EU sought to set the tone for that period, demanding that the future government be committed to non-violence, accept the existence of Israel and acknowledge the international peace plan known as the road map.

Yet diplomats admit that there is little chance of the EU's public demands being met in full any time soon. Hamas's call for Israel to be obliterated dates from 1988.

"It is difficult to dictate terms to winners. Hamas are on a high at the moment," said one source.

So far Hamas in public has rejected any linkage between aid and its political views.

Speaking after attending Monday's meeting of the Quartet - the EU, UN, US and Russia - Marc Otte, the Union's envoy to the Middle East, acknowledged that progress was likely to be slow.

"It is a long process and we are not asking for everything from day one, but we are asking for clear messages," he said.

But some glimmers of hope were seen in rumours that Hamas might forego high profile positions in the new government, including the prime minister's post, focusing instead on health, welfare and education.

Former finance minister Salem Fayed, who led the Third Way faction in the elections and who is well respected in the West, is being tipped as a possible candidate for prime minister.

Otte indicated such a move would be welcomed: "It would be a sign that they are mindful of the opinion of the international community and the image they project abroad."

International donors hope Hamas's election pledge to improve public services will make the group more sensitive to a possible withdrawal of vital international funding.

"People rejected corruption, mismanagement of public finances and bad governance. What people want most of all is law and order and an improvement of their daily lives, that is what the new government will have to take care of," said Otte.

Although leverage over Hamas is limited, diplomats this week said they hoped it would be enough to convince the group to extend and deepen their hudna - or period of calm.

Such a move would be seen as a major signal of Hamas's commitment to non-violence.

In the meantime contingency plans are being considered to avoid the financial collapse of the Palestinian Authority.

Otte said he had been in contact with Arab governments to try to cover any shortfall in budgetary assistance.

"Egypt is a central player and Jordan has obvious concerns. We also want to reach out to those countries who have been promising aid, let's say the richer Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and others.

"Other countries have promised and not delivered, but if there is a moment when they would like to help their Palestinian brothers, then now is the time."

One other option currently said to be under consideration is for the EU to channel funds through Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, differentiating the Palestinian Authority - as led by Abbas - from the Hamas-led government.

"It's in nobody's interest, including Israel's interest, that there is a complete breakdown of the functioning of institutions," said Otte.

Article reports on the difficulties for EU diplomacy to deal with Hamas, the militant group which won the Palestine Parliamentary elections on 25 January.

EEAS: Occupied Palestinian Territory http://www.eeas.europa.eu/occupied_palestinian_territory/index_en.htm

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