Palestinian Prime Minister Calls for Unity, State-Building

Martine Kaplan — June 29, 2009 – 12:31 pm | Israel Comments (0) Add a comment

In a speech last week overshadowed by coverage of the Iranian elections and other news items, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called on all Palestinians to “roll up their sleeves” and devote themselves to state-building and strengthening local infrastructure and institutions. He set a two-year timeline on efforts by both Israel and Palestinians to create a Palestinian state.

While maintaining Palestinian demands for a capital in East Jerusalem and a settlement freeze in the West Bank, Fayyad also tried to provide assurance on his desire for peace. “We hope to embody our state next to your state through a meaningful peace. We do not wish to build walls but bridges,” he said.

Much of Fayyad’s remarks were aimed at Hamas, calling for national unity at a time when international support for a Palestinian State is strong. “We have to put a stop to this senseless argumentation. I call upon you all to line up on the project of state-building, good government and proper management so the Palestinian state can be a reality,” he said. “Ending the occupation and building the state requires ending the split.” However, recently Fatah has been cracking down on Hamas groups in the West Bank. Hamas does not accept Fayyad’s prime ministership, labeling him a collaborator and “the greatest danger” Palestinians face because of his expansion of a working relationship with Israel.

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