Gaza Power Stalemate Continues as Talks Falter

Qatar’s foreign minister left the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after failing to bridge differences between the ruling Hamas movement and its chief rival, Fatah.

Sheik Hamad Jassim ibn Jaber al Thani cut short his mediation effort after separate late-night meetings with leaders of the factions left little likelihood of an imminent breakthrough. He told reporters more negotiations were needed.

Aides to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, warned again Tuesday of early elections unless the two sides came to an agreement soon over a joint government.

Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Hamas-led government, said efforts were underway to arrange a new round of talks between Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas. But none took place Tuesday.

Abbas and Haniyeh announced last month that they had agreed to form a unity government aimed at reducing the sometimes violent tensions between the groups and breaking a devastating international aid embargo directed against Hamas. The aid cutoff has brought the Palestinian government to a virtual standstill, with the 165,000 public employees largely unpaid since February.

But the deal quickly collapsed, mostly over Hamas’ refusal to agree to three conditions set by the West for restoring aid: recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and abiding by past Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Hamas, a radical Islamist group whose charter calls for Israel’s destruction, says it will not formally recognize the Jewish state but is open to a long-term truce. Its leaders have said they will not take part in a government whose platform recognizes Israel. They also refuse to give up what they see as the right to take up arms against Israel.

Hamas appears to have ruled out even a more nuanced formulation implying tacit recognition, such as acceptance of a 2002 Arab initiative calling for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict along 1967 borders and normalization of relations with Israel.

“A two-state solution is unacceptable because Israel does not recognize an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 lands. So we will not give Israeli legitimacy for free,” Ghazi Hamad said.

In a new military strike, Israel fired a missile early today into the home of Hamas lawmaker Mariam Farhat, also known as Umm Nidal.

The Israeli army said the building was a weapons factory. People were warned before the attack, and no injuries were reported.

Qatar’s mediation bid represented a new level of involvement in Palestinian affairs, in which Egypt traditionally has served as go-between. Before his Gaza visit, Sheik Hamad met with Hamas’ political chief, Khaled Meshaal, a hard-liner based in Syria whose support is critical to any coalition deal.

Qatar proposed a six-point deal that reportedly included a call for a two-state solution and a cease-fire with Israel.

The standoff has left the two Palestinian factions in a tightening bind, with economic conditions worsening, public discontent growing and the prospect of violent outbreaks between rival gunmen ever near.

Two days of infighting last week, mostly in the Gaza Strip, left at least 10 people dead and more than 100 wounded. A tense calm has prevailed since both sides pulled back.

Many in Fatah, once the dominant Palestinian political force, want Abbas to use his presidential powers to fire the Hamas government and replace it with ministers who have professional credentials and no party affiliations.

But Hamas has controlled parliament since winning elections in January, and any replacement government would need its backing. Under Palestinian law, Abbas lacks authority to dissolve parliament, although some officials contend he could call new legislative elections alongside an early presidential vote. Abbas’ term is scheduled to end in 2009.

Hamas leaders appear intent on holding onto power. They have warned that firing the government would be seen as an overthrow and could spur more bloodshed.

Elections are also risky for Fatah, whose support remains soft after its January defeat.

ken.ellingwood@latimes.com

Special correspondent Rushdi abu Alouf in Gaza City contributed to this report.