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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas leader looks to strengthen hold on Gaza |
| 2008-03-22 |
| Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh will expand his government in an effort to strengthen his hold on the coastal territory, an official close to the Hamas government in Gaza said on Friday. Haniyeh's decision to cement Hamas's grip on Gaza opposes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's demand that the Islamist group hand over control of the enclave as delegations from the rival factions meet in Yemen for reconciliation talks. Hamas Islamists took over Gaza after routing more secular Fatah forces loyal to Abbas in June. "There are consultations to enlarge the government led by Ismail Haniyeh," the official told Reuters. "The prime minister in Gaza offered some Palestinian figures to participate in the government and they have expressed an initial readiness to participate." Fatah spokesman Fahmi Zarir said: "This is illegal, this is against the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority," adding that Haniyeh was "expanding the gap" between the factions. |
| Posted by:Fred |