Palestinian PM Says Hamas Has the Power

Palestinian PM Says Hamas Has the Power

By STEVEN GUTKIN
The Associated Press
Thursday, April 6, 2006; 9:02 PM

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- The new Palestinian prime minister said Thursday that his Cabinet will take control of the Palestinian security forces, putting his Hamas-led government on a collision course with President Mahmoud Abbas.

Deepening the tension, Abbas installed a longtime ally as head of the three security branches in a battle for control of the 58,000-member police force, and he told Hamas it had to clear all foreign policy moves with him.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told The Associated Press that he rejects any attempts to take power away from Hamas, which won Jan. 25 parliamentary elections. His Cabinet was sworn in last week.

"There are attempts to create parallel frameworks to some ministries in the Palestinian government," Haniyeh said in an interview at his Gaza City headquarters. "But I don't think (Abbas) can keep up this pressure and take away power from this government."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040600711.html

I know they have a rivalry with Hamas and all but, just the same, pride and an empty sack is worth the sack.