President Mahmoud Abbas could sack the Hamas-led Palestinian government if it does not agree to his terms by the end of the month, a senior official from Abbas's Fatah movement said on Monday. Abbas has been pushing the elected Islamist group to accept a political program that would mean recognizing Israel, as a way to ease a Western aid embargo. Unable to pay official salaries, the government is facing protests and strikes.| “If the performance of the government continues like this, President Abu Mazen will use his constitutional powers to fire the government and pick a new government...” |
Abbas's office did not comment. He has not threatened to sack the government, a move that could prompt a resurgence of internal unrest. Hamas trounced Fatah in January parliamentary elections.