In wake of Hamas victory in Gaza, who governs?

Prime Minister Haniyeh insists the existing government will continue to operate, even as President Abbas announces a dissolution of the Hamas-Fatah coalition.

posted June 15, 2007 at 2:45 p.m. EDT

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In the wake of the upheaval, the US and the European Union have come out firmly in support of Abbas and have indicated that they are committed to the quick resumption of aid to the Palestinian Authority under his aegis. Most Western financial support to the Palestinian government has been withheld since the election of Hamas almost 18 months ago. The formation of the Palestinian unity government, following the powersharing Mecca Accord reached in February in Saudi Arabia, was only a slight alleviation of the problem. Most Western governments count Hamas as a terrorist organization and will not do business with it or allow funds to be sent to it.

Hamas, founded 20 years ago at the start of the first intifada, made its name through suicide bombings, and its leaders have defended their decision to deal with Israel through "resistance" rather than negotiations. US officials said they would seek to send funds and other forms of assistance to Abbas, and to ease other forms of sanctions that have been placed on the Palestinian Authority. "[He] was elected in 2005 by a large margin and we fully support him in his decision to try to end this crisis for the Palestinian people," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters Thursday. The EU made a similar statement, with EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner calling Abbas "the legitimate president of all Palestinians."

In Cairo, Arab League foreign ministers met on Friday in an emergency session to discuss the crisis and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Members appealed to both Hamas and Fatah factions to return to Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation talks, which were overshadowed by the fighting that broke out a week ago. Egypt called on Hamas to accept Abbas's decree to dissolve the government and parliament, and to agree to participate in new elections Abbas is expected to call for in coming months. Some observers hoped that the Arab League ministers would call for an international force to intervene in the crisis.

Meanwhile, as the volleys of deadly fire in Gaza fell quiet on Friday, thousands of Hamas supporters began filling the streets to celebrate their victory. Masked militants paraded through the streets, waving the Islamic-green flag of Hamas and riding atop military vehicles that were seized from Fatah forces. Looters continued to gather anything of value they could find, picking office equipment and household items out of the former presidential headquarters, the offices of security services that stayed local to Fatah, and the private homes of prominent Fatah members.

"The fact that President Abbas has fired the Hamas government is a very positive move in our opinion, and makes it easier to deal with and help the moderates," Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Friday.

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