On snap dissolution of Palestinian gov't

Former prime minister of Palestinian unity government, Rami Hamdallah unexpectedly resigned from his post at the call of the PA head Mahmoud Abbas and was immediately commissioned to form a new government in a move that gave rise to both doubts and concerns.

One may consider inefficiency on the part of Hamdallah government as reason behind Abbas decision. Internal schism within the cabinet or leaked reports on Hamas-Israel secret talks may also come to mind as possible reasons.

Lack of efficiency however may not be a good cause for the snap changes as the unity government was formed out of necessities that are still applicable. Moreover, poor management on the part of the former cabinet stemmed from the failure of the Fatah party or the PA authorities in pursuing the agreements that led to the formation of unity government that were largely due to western and Israeli pressures.

Internal differences within the cabinet too are not too good a reason for Abbas decision as the differences may be normally removed through a cabinet shakeup rather than dissolution.

A third reason may be the leaked reports that Hamas had been in secret talks with Israel for a five to 10 years of truce in return for removing the Gaza siege. Hamas has not confirmed such talks. However, they could be a perilous trap set up by Israel in order to further strain Hamas-Fatah relations.

Either reason is at work, the dissolution could not bear positive results for the Palestinian nation as it ruined any fruits of unity talks between the two Palestinian factions.

By Ahmad Kazemzadeh, expert in ME affairs