The Palestinian Authority Government of March 2006 was a government of the Palestinian National Authority from 29 March 2006 to 17 March 2007, led by Ismail Haniyeh. After winning the democratic elections on 25 January, Hamas formed a cabinet of mostly Hamas members and in addition four independents. It was the first Hamas-led PNA government in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Fatah and other factions refused to join Hamas in a government.
Contents
Because Hamas did not recognize Israel and earlier agreements a substantial part of the international community, especially Israel and the United States, did not accept the Hamas government. Sanctions to undermine the Palestinian Government were imposed. After the massive arrest of PLC members and ministers by Israel following the abduction of Gilad Shalit, nearly a third of the parliament was detained.
Background
Pursuant to the Oslo Accords, the authority of the PA Government is limited to some civil rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank Areas A and B and in the Gaza Strip, and to internal security in Area A and in Gaza.
Formation
On 27 March 2006, Ismail Haniyeh announced his new government before the Palestinian Legislative Council. On 28 March, the government of mostly Hamas members and in addition four independents was approved by the PLC and sworn in on 29 March 2006. Hamas preferred a broad coalition with Hamas, Fatah and other factions, but Fatah refused to join a new Hamas-led coalition. On 26 January 2006, Fatah leader Saeb Erakat said his party did not want to join a Hamas Government. The Fatah Central Committee decided that Fatah will not join the next Government, but said it would depend on President Abbas. On 28 January 2006, Hamas declared it would try to form a Government of technocrats, if a government with Fatah and all the political groups was not possible. On 29 January 2006, PLC deputies from Fatah confirmed after talks with Abbas that their faction would not join Hamas in a coalition Government and would prefer to sit in opposition, despite calls by Hamas for a “political partnership”. The decision was, however, not discussed and ratified by the Fatah Central Committee.
International sanctions
After Hamas democratically won the elections, Israel in conjunction with the United States, threatened to restrict the movement of money, people and goods into and out of Gaza Strip and West Bank, if Hamas would become part of the new government. Israel demanded Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist, to forswear violence and to accept the validity of previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.
Following the formation of a Hamas-led government on 29 March 2006, Israel, the US and the Quartet on the Middle East imposed sanctions against the PA. Israel responded with the withholding of taxes collected on behalf of the PA.
Timeline
Due to the Israeli blockade, ministers from West Bank and Gaza were compelled to communicate by videophone. One of the first acts of the Hamas cabinet, was to freeze a round of appointments by the outgoing Fatah-led government.
A struggle for power between President Abbas and the new government emerged. Abbas made his longtime ally Rashid Abu Shbak head of three security agencies. Also, he ordered that all diplomatic statements and dealings be coordinated with the Fatah-domiated Palestine Liberation Organization, after Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar had sent a letter to the UN Secretary General.
In April 2006, it was announced that the Hamas ministers in the Cabinet had resigned their membership in the organization, in an effort to reduce Israeli and international pressure, facing the economic siege.
Members of the Government
March 2006 to March 2007