Barghouti: Unity government to face difficult challenges

There is a mountain of difficult tasks awaiting the upcoming government, the Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative Dr Mustafa Barghouti said.

He clarified, during a televised interview with Al-Quds TV yesterday evening, that the next stage requires the ability to deal creatively with economic issues and distribution.

He added: “We work extensively to set the path for the coming government to come out of any crisis it may be hit with by strengthening European and international ties even if America cut off its aid.”

Barghouti explained that the negotiations between Hamas and Fatah are not limited to consultations on the coming government alone, saying, “the government is not for all the tasks”, clarifying that the discussions included a number of important issues.

Barghouti indicated that the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leadership, the arrests occurring in the West Bank and Gaza and press freedoms are all being discussed, indicating that work must commence to deal with all these issues gradually and step by step.

Amongst the matters being discussed is the issue of “passports for those outside Palestine”, citizens who couldn’t get the Palestinian passport, Barghouti explained: “There is now the possibility of procuring them naturally, a right for every Palestinian.”

He mentioned that the greater challenge is treating the remains of division, clarifying that it needs true initiative, as well as international backing, calling for unification of Palestinian organisations and reclaiming Palestinian democracy.

The Palestinian unity government will be announced tomorrow after Hamas and Fatah reach an agreement on its formation.