DAMASCUS, March 7 (RIA Novosti) - A row between parliamentarians from the Hamas and Fatah movements in the newly elected Palestinian legislature may cause a delay in the formation of the government, a local expert said Tuesday.
"The events that shook parliament yesterday may affect the timeframe for the government's formation," said Khaled Abd Al-Majed, a prominent Palestinian politician. He leads the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), headquartered in Damascus, Syria.
On Monday, members of parliament representing the Fatah movement, which held a majority of seats in the previous parliament, left the first session of the newly elected Palestinian parliament dominated by Hamas, a radical Islamic movement. Fatah lawmakers walked out after Hamas deputies decided to review the additional powers granted to the head of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, at the last session of the outgoing parliament on February 13.
"The parliamentary session held on February 13 after the new parliament was elected was illegal," Abd Al-Majed said.
According to the expert, the new government will be unable to operate normally unless it includes representatives of all the political forces that were successful in the parliamentary elections on January 25 when Hamas achieved a resounding victory.
"We call on all those who won the elections to take part in forming a coalition government of national unity," Abd Al-Majed said, urging Hamas to continue consultations with all the political forces, above all Fatah.
According to Abd Al-Majed, Fatah holds one third of seats in parliament and can block any decision. He also said the lack of Fatah representatives in the coalition government would hinder the work of parliament in the interests of Palestinian people.
The politician, however, said the first debates in parliament indicated its democratic character. "For the first time, we can hear real variety of opinions in the Palestinian parliament," he said. "Even if these are heated debates, they can be useful."
Abd Al-Majed said the new parliament would soon overcome the differences and avoid a protracted crisis.
Hamas's convincing victory in the elections aroused international concerns, with Russia being the only one of four international mediators in the Middle East peace process that did not label Hamas a terrorist organization, unlike the UN, the United States and the European Union.
Following its victory, Hamas has come under international pressure to recognize Israel, renounce violence, and meet commitments pledged by previous Palestinian leaders. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov highlighted these points when he met a Hamas delegation in Moscow on Friday.
Abbas instructed Hamas to form a new government in late February. Under PNA law, a coalition government is to be accomplished within three weeks.
