Palestinian March 2007 National Unity Government
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The Palestinian national unity government formed on March 17, 2007 (Arabic: المجلس الفلسطيني لآذار 17 2007) was a Palestinian cabinet headed by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, founded following Saudi-sponsored negotiations in Mecca. On June 14 2007, Following the Hamas military takeover of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the dissolution of the unity government.
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[edit] Timeline
Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian elections. As a result, Israel, the United States, the European Union, several Western states, and the Arab states imposed sanctions suspending all foreign aid, upon which Palestinians depend.
On February 8 2007 Saudi-sponsored negotiations in Mecca produced agreement on a Palestinian national unity government signed by Mahmoud Abbas on behalf of Fatah and Khaled Mashal on behalf of Hamas. The new government was called on to achieve Palestinian national goals as approved by the Palestine National Council, the clauses of the Basic Law and the National Reconciliation Document (the "Prisoners' Document") as well as the decisions of the Arab summit. [1]
In March 2007, the Palestinian Legislative Council established a national unity government, with 83 representatives voting in favor and three against. Government ministers were sworn in by Abu Mazen, the chairman on the Palestinian Authority, in at a ceremony held simultaneously in Gaza and Ramallah. In June that year, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip from the national unity government[2] after forcing out Fatah.
On June 14 2007, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the dissolution of the March 2007 unity government and the declaration of a state of emergency.[3][4] Ismail Haniya has been dismissed, and Abbas will rule Gaza and the West Bank by presidential decree.[5]
Following the takeover of the Gaza Strip Egypt and Israel largely sealed their border crossings with Gaza, on the grounds that Fatah had fled and was no longer providing security on the Palestinian side.[6] Egypt fearing a spill-over of Hamas-style militancy into their territory assisted in the blockade.[7] The sanctions were tightened in response to rocket attacks on southern Israel and Palestinian militant attacks on crossing points between Israel and Gaza.[8][9]
[edit] Members of the Palestine cabinet
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "The Palestinian National Unity Government". February 24, 2007. http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/inss022407.htm. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ Black, Ian; Tran, Mark (Friday 15 June 2007). "Hamas takes control of Gaza". Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/15/israel4. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
- ^ "Abbas Dissolves Palestinian Authority Government in Wake of Hamas-Fatah War". Fox News. 2007-06-14. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,282195,00.html. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ Levinson, Charles; Matthew Moore (2007-06-14). "Abbas declares state of emergency in Gaza". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/14/wgaza614.xml. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ "Abbas sacks Hamas-led government". BBC News. 2007-06-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6754499.stm. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ Olmert aide supports free Gaza. By Dion Nissenbaum. McClatchy Newspapers. Published 8 December 2008
- ^ Palestinians flood into Egypt after blowing up border wall, The Guardian, January 23, 2008.
- ^ "Truck bomb destroys Gaza-Israel pedestrian crossing". Associated Press. USA Today. 2008-05-22. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-05-22-israel-palestinians_N.htm?csp=34.
- ^ "Gaza sanctions: The legal argument". Associated Press. BBC. 2007-10-30. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7069203.stm.
