The Palestinian factions have responded in different ways regarding participation in the intended Palestinian coalition government. As the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) abstained, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and the Palestinian Peoples' Party (PPP) continue to await Hamas's approval of their particular conditions before agreeing to participate.

The head of the Hamas bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council, Salah Bardawil, told Ma'an that "Hamas have taken into account the results of the legislative elections and the Mecca agreement, which was harmonious with the national agreement document". He added that, "if Hamas make concessions, that will be only for the sake of the homeland, rather than [in response to] American and Israeli wishes."

He depicted the factions' demands as ignoring the democratic elections and violating the choice of the Palestinians. He also said that the participation of all factions would not be necessary since opposition must be strong in order to be able to correct any mistakes of the government.

In a courageous comment, he compared the preconditions of the Palestinian factions to the United States ' attempts to strip Hamas of all the ministerial portfolios, despite offering the other factions six portfolios, thereby knowing that they can get at best two ministerial portfolios according to the proportional law. He continued, "Hamas was asked to surrender the interior ministry, the treasury and the security to independent figures, and we agreed. What else do they want? Shall we give them everything and take the leftovers? This is an American Israeli suggestion."

With regards to the PFLP's abstention, Bardawil said, "They asked for more portfolios and when we couldn't give them, they criticized the political agenda."

A member of the DFLP's politburo, Qais Abu Laila, told Ma'an that their participation depends on the ongoing negotiations with Hamas.

For their part, the PPP have not yet decided whether to participate or not in the coalition government. Bassam As-Salihi from the PPP told Ma'an that "their participation depends on their demands which are that the government is guaranteed to succeed in dealing with domestic affairs, including the security services," which the PPP prefer not to be bound to factions.

Source: Maan News Ageny