GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Bodyguards for Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh opened fire outside the parliament building Monday to disperse a crowd of protesters angry over the government’s failure to end a growing economic crisis in the Gaza Strip. One woman was wounded in the melee.

The violent demonstration reflected widespread discontent with the outgoing Hamas-led government, which has been unable to pay tens of thousands of civil servants because of international sanctions.

Yielding to the pressure, Hamas agreed last week to form a coalition with President Mahmoud Abbas’ moderate Fatah party in hopes of lifting the boycott. However, the coalition talks have stalled in recent days as the U.S. seeks assurances that Hamas will renounce violence and recognize the Jewish state.

With Abbas trying to persuade Hamas to moderate its views, Israel offered an incentive to the Islamic militant group on Monday. A government official said Israel will consider releasing millions of dollars and freeing Palestinian prisoners if the Palestinian government moderates its hardline views and an Israeli soldier captured in June by Hamas-linked militants is freed.

“If they do that, then the Israeli commitment is to immediately follow through with substantial confidence building measures that would reinforce a positive momentum,” Foreign Ministry Mark Regev said. He spoke ahead of a meeting in New York between Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Abbas.

“For us the meeting is important,” Regev said. “We don’t want to see stagnation.”

Israel and Western donors cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the Palestinians after Hamas won legislative elections in January.The sanctions have made it impossible for the government to pay its 165,000 workers, causing poverty and unemployment to skyrocket in Gaza.

Several hundred protesters – including unpaid civil servants and laborers who have lost jobs in Israel – greeted Haniyeh’s motorcade as it arrived at the parliament building in Gaza. The protesters had set up a tent about two weeks ago, and said they were angry that no government official has talked to them.

When some of the protesters blocked Haniyeh’s car, his bodyguards fired in the air to disperse the crowd, setting off a wild scene.

Demonstrators screamed at the security men, while several guards lay on the hood of the car as it passed through the crowd. One black-clad gunman stood above the crowd, holding his weapon in the air.

One of the protest leaders, Jihan Sirsawi, was injured – allegedly by Haniyeh’s security men. “One of the executive force hit her with his gun on the back of her neck. She was also injured in her leg and foot during the chaos,” said Wafa Hasanein, another protester.

Sirsawi was being examined at a hospital and the extent of her injuries wasn’t immediately known..

As Haniyeh stepped out of the car, more gunfire broke out. Under heavy guard, Haniyeh moved slowly up the steps of the building, smiling and turning back to wave to the crowd. He did not speak to the protesters.

The parliamentary session was canceled after angry Fatah lawmakers boycotted the meeting to protest the violence outside.

Since Hamas and Fatah announced their plans to form a coalition last week, the talks have hit a snag. Abbas is trying to use a meeting in New York with U.S. President George W. Bush this week to try to win support for the prospective coalition.

The so-called Quartet of Mideast peacemakers – the U.S., European Union, Russia and United Nations – say Hamas must renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept past peace agreements before aid can resume. Abbas has been pushing Hamas to accept those demands.

A copy of the platform for the planned unity government was released Monday. Among its key points are calling for a Palestinian state in areas captured by Israel in 1967. That stance implies recognition of Israel.

It also calls for acceptance of past agreements between the PLO and Israel that “protect the higher interests of our people.” The vague language appears to fall short of the Quartet demands.

Hamas leaders have said they will not compromise any further, infuriating Abbas.

Separately Monday, an Israeli military court held off on deciding whether 18 Hamas lawmakers should be released from prison. The court, which ordered the lawmakers freed last week, made no decision on the army prosecutor’s appeal and did not say when a ruling would be made.

Israel arrested the lawmakers after Hamas-allied militants captured the Israeli soldier in June. In recent days, officials have reported progress in Egyptian-mediated negotiations to arrange a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas.

(jmf)

Copyright © 2006 The International Herald Tribune | www.iht.com