The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
36°F
Current Conditions
Broken clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

As power shifts, Hamas agrees to new leader

Palestinian Hamas supporters dance in the West Bank town of Jenin during a rally in support of a Palestinian unity government on Monday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Dion Nissenbaum McClatchy
Palestinian Hamas supporters dance in the West Bank town of Jenin during a rally in support of a Palestinian unity government on Monday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Ten months after seizing power in a historic election, the hard-line Hamas movement is preparing to relinquish control of the Palestinian Authority in hopes of ending the international economic blockade that has prevented Hamas from effectively running the government.

In a significant concession, the Islamist militant group agreed Monday to accept a United States-educated microbiology professor to replace Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as prime minister. As the new prime minister, Mohammed Shabir would head a coalition of largely apolitical intellectuals designed to end the Palestinian government’s global isolation.

Although a new unity government could end Hamas’ short-lived reign as the ruling Palestinian party in the Cabinet, it remains far from certain that it will succeed in persuading critical foreign donors to restore millions in funding.

As soon as Hamas formed the government in March, Israel and the international community cut off virtually all outside funding to the Palestinians. Since then, the Palestinian government has ground to a halt. Hospitals are barely running. Schools have been closed for weeks. Government workers haven’t been paid regular salaries in months.

Hamas is still refusing to meet one of the core international demands, though: explicit recognition of Israel.

“It is impossible for us to come out and say we recognize Israel,” said Hamas negotiator Eesa Nashar.

If the new unity government fails to take that step, it seems unlikely that Israel, the European Union and the United States will agree to resume help for the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian leaders have been mired in negotiations over the unity government for months. Negotiators have announced breakthroughs at various points, only to have each deal break down.

One sticking point has been Hamas’ demand that it retain the post of prime minister. But Haniyeh and his political party now have agreed to cede control to a government led by largely apolitical specialists.

On Monday, the parties settled on Shabir, the longtime head of Islamic University in Gaza City, as the new prime minister.

Shabir, 60, served as president of the Hamas-allied university for 15 years.

Although the campus has produced and hired many top Hamas leaders, Shabir hasn’t been a prominent political figure. Shabir, who received a doctorate in microbiology from West Virginia University, has maintained good relations with leaders from Hamas and its more moderate rivals in the Fatah party.

If the deal falls into place, Haniyeh would resign as prime minister, clearing the way for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to name Shabir as his replacement. Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah party still have to agree on who will fill the other Cabinet posts, including that of foreign minister.

Hamas’ decision is a significant concession. It long had argued that the international community should support its government because it fairly won the Palestinian elections in January.