GAZA: Despite the roar that erupted after a state of emergency was declared in the Palestinian territories, the formation of an emergency government appears to be temporary, rather than an arbitrary declaration of martial law, as would likely be the case in most other parts of the world.

Palestinian officials say the steps of the new emergency government will continue to be restricted in dealing with the internal Palestinian situation as long as Israel continues occupation and military actions and security measures against the Palestinians.

Numerous Palestinian bodies considered the step of forming an emergency government a precedence action aimed at stopping predicted Israeli measures following last week's suicide bombing by a Palestinian member of the armed wing of Islamic Jihad (Holy War) that killing at least 19 Israelis.

Following twin suicide bombing attacks by Hamas on September 10 that killed at least 16 Israelis, the Israeli security cabinet decided to remove Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat because "he is an obstacle for peace with Israel."

Many Israeli cabinet ministers, especially those on the far right, called for Arafat's assassination instead of simply expelling him from Palestinian territory.

On Sunday Arafat issued a presidential decree that declared a state of emergency in the Palestinian controlled territories as well as the formation of a nine-member emergency government to confront the exceptional circumstances that the Palestinians are passing through.

According to the Palestinian basic law, the new government can act for only one month before petitioning the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) for an extension of its term.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a top aide to Arafat, announced that the normal Palestinian cabinet will be sworn in during the month following the emergency government's tenure.

PLC members say the emergency government will face many difficulties, especially with the legislative council, if the government is presented before the council to renew its term for an extra month.

Palestinian legislator Azmi Shuybi said in Palestinian basic law there is something called a "status of emergency," but nothing related to forming an emergency government. "I believe that such kind of a government will never pass at the legislative council to renew its term for another month," said Shuybi.

Voices of opposition emerged among different Palestinian factions, including the leading Fatah movement chaired by Arafat, especially the Fatah members of the PLC, the parliament of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

Fatah officials say that any Palestinian government should not carry out any certain measures that would create an internal Palestinian conflict to make the Israelis happy.

Nabil Amer, former Information Minister in Mahmoud Abbas, or Abu Mazen's cabinet, said that the obstacles that will confront Ahmed Qurei's government will be the same obstacles that confronted Abu Mazen.

Amer revealed that the Palestinian leadership is now seeking to present to the Israeli people a new Palestinian initiative of ceasefire and renewal of the stalled peace process. The aim is to reach a comprehensive and unlimited ceasefire through the help of the United States as well as other Quartet Committee members, along with the participation of some Arab countries.

The PNA has announced it has been trying to convince the Palestinian militants groups and factions to accept its initiative of ceasefire and declare another Hudna (truce) different from the one they declared at the end of June.

The Fatah movement, Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Islamic Jihad as well as the Democratic and Popular Fronts had all declared a three-month Hudna. However, it was not able to be kept due to mutual violations.

What the Palestinian leadership is presenting right now seems to be a serious effort to find exits to the deteriorated security impasse and an attempt to create the proper atmosphere to get back on the political track, said Amer.

He stressed that there will be no exit out of the current crisis unless the Israeli Government accepts the Palestinian initiative, and unless there is a US and European enthusiasm to work for it.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2003)