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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Palestinian PM quits in new deal |
| 2007-02-15 |
| Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya has resigned as part of a deal that will set up a national unity government. The move came after Mr Haniya and President Mahmoud Abbas ironed out last-minute problems in the power-sharing deal sealed last week. Factional fighting between Mr Abbas's Fatah and Mr Haniya's Hamas has claimed more than 90 Palestinian lives between December and this month. Mr Abbas has asked Mr Haniya to put together the new government. However, there are still doubts whether the US will end its boycott of the government. A ban on Western financial aid has crippled the Palestinian Authority since Hamas, which has refused to recognise Israel, won elections in January last year. Mr Haniya tendered his resignation at the meeting with Mr Abbas in Gaza. He will be formally reappointed and will have five weeks to get the new Cabinet accepted by the Hamas-dominated parliament. Mr Abbas had called off a national address on Thursday because of last-minute problems over the new power-sharing deal. Hamas was reportedly unhappy about moves to dissolve a security force that it has established. There were also disputes over appointments to key Cabinet posts. On Thursday it was unclear if the US would back the new government. Aides to Mr Abbas said Washington would continue its boycott unless the government met international demands over Israel. A US state department spokesman said Washington would not make a judgement until the government was formed. |
| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #3 Treasurer. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-02-15 14:08 |
| #2 So what is Izzy considered now? Consigliere? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-02-15 13:42 |
| #1 so does this mean Dahlan will not be in as Dep PM? Did Hamas give anything up for that? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2007-02-15 13:17 |