Palestinian leadership has officially announced the formation of a unity-government Tuesday. The Fatah-Hamas unity government closes a seven-year rival between the two parties since 2007 and is the main reason for the fall out of peace talks with Israel. Hamas and Fatah announced on April 23 that the parties with create a unity-government towards the deadline for peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Spokesmen for Hamas and Fatah reported that a list of “independent technocrat ministers” who will run for government have been jointly decided upon and should be published this week. Current Prime Minister Ram al-Hamdalllah will lead the government’s new cabinet and reports claim that he will also assume the role of interior minister.
Both Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas head Khaled Meshaal will announce the government in the following days as reported by a Fatah official. A separate Fatah official stated that, “The viewpoints of the Hamas and Fatah movements will be presented to President Abbas to give his final decision on the government line-up.”
Abbas is reportedly waiting to make the announcement until he decides on a religious affairs minister.
Amir Tsarfati is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.
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