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Hamas calls for `national unity'

The Hamas-led Palestinian government is looking for help from its main rival, Fatah, in the face of a financial crisis, international isolation and internal unrest, calling for a "national unity" coalition as a way out of the crisis.

Hamas renewed its appeal on Sunday, but there was no sign that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah, thrown out in January elections after four decades in control of Palestinian politics, would accept.

Fatah officials even failed to show up for a meeting of factions called by Hamas on Sunday.

"We affirmed that the issue of forming a national unity government is under consideration," Ghazi Hamad, the government spokesperson told reporters. "The door is open to Fatah."

Fatah, however, has already rejected joining a unity government and is enjoying the difficulties Hamas faces in running the government while trying to avoid compromising its hardline positions.

The situation has become critical. Sanctions by Israel and the West have dried up the Palestinian treasury, and salaries for 140,000 public sector workers are more than two weeks overdue, triggering demonstrations.

Bitterness has heightened in recent days since Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas accused Abbas of trying to undermine the new government.

Abbas aides called Haniyeh's comments unacceptable.

Meanwhile Iran has offered to donate more than US$50 million to the Palestinian Authority to help it with its budget crisis. It is the first solid promise of financial aid for the new Hamas government.

Russia has also offered to provide aid, although it has not stipulated what it is offering and how it will be paid.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that he was honored to help the Palestinian nation and called on other Muslim nations to follow suit.

Iran's donation, announced after an anti-Zionism conference in Tehran, is less than half of the US$132 million the Palestinian Authority requires to pay its workers for a month.

The US, EU and Canada withdrew their donations because Hamas refused to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Israel also did not transfer US$55 million it owes the Palestinian Authority in customs duties.

Iran's offer of help does not mean the crisis is over. Tehran has to transfer the money to the Palestinian Authority, which has had trouble getting banking facilities since Hamas took over.

Also the Palestinian Authority needs US$55 million every month, and by the end of this month it will have another wage bill.

A unity coalition would be designed to put differences aside and give legitimacy to the Hamas-led government as a way of persuading the West to resume vital foreign aid. But many in Fatah are hoping Hamas will fail and be forced to call new elections.
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