Palestinian minister says his resignation spurred peace, dialogue

Published: 2006-06-20

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The Palestinian tourism minister said his sudden resignation and eventual return have spurred fighting political factions to rein in their militias and dialogue with one another. Judeh Morkus, a Catholic, resigned from his post June 12, saying that it was "a clear political message to both Fatah and Hamas in particular and all Palestinians in general ... that the internal fighting is wrong and that it should stop or we will lose everything." Morkus is the only Christian Cabinet member of the Hamas-led Palestinian government. He said the government and president's office refused to accept his resignation, and he received many calls for his return, which he agreed to June 17. Following his drastic move, he told Catholic News Service June 19 that the factions began to dialogue earnestly. Morkus, who kept a low media profile after announcing his resignation and subsequent return, said he expected an agreement to be reached by the end of the week.

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