Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's proposal to his Islamic militant rivals reflected the Palestinians' deep frustration over Washington's handling of Mideast peace efforts. That anger was underscored over the weekend when the United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Any partnership with the anti-Israel Hamas would likely draw international criticism and all but rule out hopes of reviving negotiations. The United States, European Union and Israel shun Hamas as a terror organization.
The Palestinian areas have been divided between two rival governments since Hamas violently seized control of Gaza nearly four years ago. Reunification is essential for the Palestinians, who hope to establish a state that includes both areas.
Fayyad said in an interview that the division has gone on too long. "We need to move to end the split," he said during a tour of the northern West Bank.
Fayyad's boss, President Mahmoud Abbas, announced earlier this month that he would hold long overdue parliamentary and presidential elections in September.
Hamas has said it would boycott the elections unless there is reconciliation first. Abbas has since taken the view that elections could not be held without Gaza.
Fayyad, a U.S.-educated economist who enjoys international respect, refused to say whether elections would be canceled. Instead, he said his focus is to work with Hamas to make the elections take place.
Fayyad acknowledged that many details need to be worked out, but he said that as long as Hamas continues to respect a cease-fire with Israel, all other areas of disagreement could be bridged.
Gaza militants have fired hundreds of rockets at Israel since a bruising Israeli invasion two years ago, but Hamas says splinter groups are largely responsible.
While Abbas would remain president of all Palestinians until elections are held, Fayyad said Hamas could retain security control of Gaza under a unified government. He said other key details, such as who would be prime minister, would have to be resolved in negotiations.
"If we agree on the concept that rules out violence to achieve our national goals, we are now ready to form a national unity government that rules in both the West Bank and Gaza," he said.
In Gaza, Hamas officials refused to comment on Fayyad's proposal, saying they needed more details. Israeli officials also did not immediately comment.
This article appeared on page A - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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