Palestinians Agree To Coalition

(CBS/AP)  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh agreed on Monday that their moderate Fatah and militant Hamas parties would form a coalition government — a move the Palestinians hope would ease crippling international sanctions.

There were no immediate details on the provisions of the developing coalition agreement, or whether it would go far enough to end the international economic siege. But both sides said it was based on a proposal that many have interpreted to imply recognition of Israel, a key international demand.

The West and Israel have been withholding hundreds of millions of dollars from the Hamas-led government, which swept January parliamentary elections, because of the group's refusal to disarm, recognize Israel and accept existing peace agreements.

Hamas' has been unable to pay the salaries of 165,000 government employees since it took power six months ago, leaving the Palestinian Authority in disarray, reports CBS News correspondent Robert Berger.


In other developments:

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says if Hamas militants in Gaza release an Israeli soldier kidnapped more than two months ago, the peace process would get a boost. "I remain dedicated to advancing the political process with the Palestinians," Olmert said.

Al Qaeda's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri denounced U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon as "hostile to Islam" and warned in a new videotape aired Monday that Israel and Persian Gulf countries would be al Qaeda's next targets. The video was one of a flurry of messages the terror group put out to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

Olmert is coming under increasing pressure to open an official investigation into the perceived failures of the war in Lebanon, reports Berger. Former Israeli Defense minister Moshe Arens says the government and army mishandled the war. "First of all, we lost. And we lost to a very small group of people, 5,000 Hezbollah fighters, which should have been no match at all to the IDF," he said.

An angry protester accusing Tony Blair of complicity in the recent Israeli bombardment of Lebanon disrupted a news conference in Beirut, while thousands more shouted outside to protest his visit to Lebanon. "This visit is an insult," the woman shouted. "Shame on you, Tony Blair."

Hamas and Fatah have been negotiating for months to form a coalition. Abbas interrupted a meeting with Haniyeh on Monday to invite Palestinian media to hear his announcement.

"The continuous efforts to form a national unity government have ended successfully with the announcement of a political program for this government," Abbas told Palestinian television and the official WAFA news agency. "Efforts in the next few days will continue to complete the formation of the national unity government."

"The national interest requires that all our people unite to head in stable steps so we can achieve victory by establishing our independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Abbas added.

Ismail Haniyeh, who said earlier in the day that he would retain his post under such a government, confirmed that the two parties planned to rule together.

"I bring good news to the Palestinian people and I feel proud and content that at this important moment we establish a national coalition government," Haniyeh said.

Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh said the president would dissolve the existing Hamas-led government within 48 hours to pave the way for the formation of a coalition.

Palestinian lawmaker Saeb Erekat, who is close to Abbas, said final details of the coalition agreement had to be ironed out. Those details will help to decide whether the new coalition, if formed, wins the recognition the international community has denied the Hamas-only government.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Israel hoped any future Palestinian government would accept the three international demands, and facilitate the release of an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas-linked militants more than two months ago.

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[menachem2-2009]

Personal Responsibility! The Palestinians voted in Hamas a terrorist organization. This is the same group that on 9/11 were dancing at the death of the murdered Americans by Islamic Terrorist. The people of Lebanon for six years help build concrete bunkers for Hezbollah moving over 12,000 missiles not to mention the small arms ammunition. The Lebanese people also voted into office the terrorist group Hezbollah. So when Hezbollah/Lebanon attacked Israel, Israel attacked back. I say well done Israel I am only sorry the world pressure made Israel stop. As far as the Palestinians they disserve no blank check either to walk free from responsibility. Electing terrorist in office. I am sick of giving money to the Palestinian/Islamic groups just to have them dance on 9/11 at the murdered Americans. No more excuses: bad childhood, another race of people, no TV, too much TV, no mother, SO WHAT everyone has something to be upset over, but that does not give you the right to KILL!

[grazinggoat]

A real shame on Tony Blair visiting Lebanon, after all what he stood for during the savage Israeli attacks on Lebanon, civilian population, civilian targets and civilian infrastructure. He also promised to dedicate the last days in office to find a solution for the Israeli-Palestinian cause. Big promise. What a wham... If that is the case, the last time a Brit personnality promised somthing, it was the creation of an Israeli state on the Palestinian Land (Balfour treaty). So please Tony go back home, keep your Sterling 40M and retire. You have caused enough havoc elsewhere in the middle-east, being the Poodle of GWBush.