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Fayyad Resignation: No Effect On Palestinian Reconciliation

The resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is unlikely to contribute to Hamas-Fatah reconciliation and the formation of a national unity government, writes Hazem Balousha.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad sits at the head of a Palestinian cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah April 16, 2013. Abbas accepted Fayyad's resignation on Saturday, but is likely to keep him in office for the next few weeks while the U.S. tries to revive Middle East peace talks, officials said on Monday. REUTERS/ Mohamed Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTXYNV1

The resignation of the Palestinian prime minister in the West Bank, Salam Fayyad, has sparked mixed reactions among Palestinian factions and the public. While some welcomed this move, others were pessimistic about it. A third camp did not pay it much attention and did not care about its repercussions on the PA’s financial status and on the reconciliation with Hamas.

Although Hamas has not expressed a clear position toward Fayyad’s resignation from the government, which it deems “illegal,” the Islamist group considered that this resignation came within the framework of political conflict between Fatah, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Fayyad himself.

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