GAZA (PIC)– The Hamas Movement on Monday hoped that the PA national unity government would be declared before the fixed time limit of five weeks.
Dr. Ismail Redwan the Hamas spokesman in Gaza said in a press release that Hamas was pondering retaining ministers in the current government in the new cabinet line-up but would not reveal names.
Hamas did not name anyone so far as ministers in the unity government he said adding that the matter was still under discussion.
He disclosed however that the Movement was thinking of allocating the information portfolio to a faction other than Hamas and Fatah.
The spokesman noted that the PFLP asked for an increase in the number of ministries allocated to it in the coming government but Hamas refused.
Redwan said that the differences over the foreign ministry was resolved through agreement on the part of both Fatah and Hamas to allocate its portfolio to an independent figure that would not be deducted from either faction’s quota.
For his part MP Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi leader of the independent Palestine bloc in the PLC held a lengthy meeting with Ismail Haneyya the PA premier-designate on Sunday in Gaza.
Barghouthi told reporters after the meeting that his bloc’s participation would be decided after internal debates adding that a detailed discussion was made with Haneyya over the program of the unity government which he described as an “accomplishment” for the Palestinian people.
Haneyya: Washington deals with Palestinians with old mentality:
Haneyya addressing his government’s 44th session held in Gaza and the West Bank via videoconference said that the USA stand regarding the Palestinian national unity government was regrettably “negative” and opposed to such a government despite Palestinian consensus over it.
The premier-designate said that the USA should realize that the Palestinian people were now united on one political program to be implemented through a national unity government representing the political spectrum “thus its stand is completely unjustified”.
Haneyya said he was keen on forming the new government the soonest; affirming that lifting the siege on the Palestinian people imposing security and stability and elevating the citizens’ standard of living would top the new government’s priorities.
