[Christian Science Monitor] Joshua Mitnick - Islamic militants in the Palestinian territories are coming under domestic pressure to resolve a financial crisis or share power as a U.S. and European aid boycott of the Hamas-led government is sowing widespread disillusionment with Hamas. "People can't wait any longer without income," said Samir Barghouti, the director of the Arab Center for Economic Development. "The Arab pressure, the international pressure, and the Israeli pressure has worked. Regular people are saying, 'We elected Hamas and we trust Hamas, but Hamas is not able to bring results.'" Palestinians hope that a power-sharing arrangement between Hamas and Fatah would end the aid boycott, and restore public sector salaries. Analysts say that a power-sharing arrangement would allow Abbas to participate in peace talks with Israel, while leaving veto power with Hamas.
2006-09-06 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive