by Saud Abu Ramadan

    GAZA/RAMALLAH, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The inauguration of the Hamas-led new Palestinian government on Wednesday stirred up mixed responses in Palestinians with some voicing confidence while others, concerns.

    But most of the people agreed that the new cabinet would have to steer along a bumpy road in the coming four-year term in office, in face of hard political, economic and social challenges. Inauguration ceremonies were held in both the West Bank city of Ramallah and Gaza City via live video links on Wednesday since Israel bans travel of Hamas officials between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

    The swearing-in, described by Hamas as a historic moment, formally signals Hamas' taking the reins of the Palestinian government.

    Mahmoud Abu Tawahin, 36, who was from Shatti refugee camp west of Gaza City where newly-sworn in Prime Minister Ismail Haneya was born and grew up, said that he was optimistic that the new Palestinian cabinet would make positive changes, mainly in domestic issues.

    "I know Haneya more than any body else. He is my neighbor and I know the man very well," said Abu Tawahin. "He is not corrupted, he is a man of principle and never lies, and this is enough for meto believe that this man is clean."

    The cab driver in Gaza City also said that he was sure that such a clean man like Haneya, in cooperation with his ministries, would be able to deal with all the coming challenges." Those people (Hamas leaders) are successful people and never easily surrender," Abu Tawahin concluded.

    But some Palestinian analysts strike a string of caution over the future situation the Hamas cabinet might have to face, citing financial shortages, prevailing poverty and unemployment and Israel's sealing of the Palestinian territories and possibly more unilateral moves.

    Analysts say that to solve all the outstanding issues demands hard work of the Haneya-headed cabinet and the cooperation of the majority of the Palestinian people.

    "In addition to the tough Israeli security measures and military operations, Haneya has to continue fighting corruption and work hard on ending poverty and creating job opportunities for queues of unemployed people," said Ashraf al-Ajrami, a Palestinian analyst based in Gaza.

    He added that suspension of aids by international donors would also pose a grave challenge to the Hamas cabinet. Some Palestinians, meanwhile, hope that the new government should translate words into actions on the ground, expressing concerns about the future.

    "I don't believe that the new cabinet will be able to solve all the difficulties in political, social and economic fields," said Salman Abu Hadayed, a Palestinian businessman in Gaza. Poverty and soaring unemployment have already infested the Palestinian territories and the World Bank has warned that the wabbling economy will face dire consequences if foreign aid is withheld.

    Israel has halted the transfer of around 50 million U.S. dollars of tax revenues to the Palestinian government after Hamas' election victory in the January legislative elections and the Quartet of international donors-- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia-- have threatened to cut aids if Hamas does not renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept previous deals with Israel.

    Meanwhile, with the election victory of Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party, the Hamas government might be confronted with Israeli unilateral steps, seen by Palestinians as moves that would deny them a viable future state.

    "Olmert is determined to implement his plan to unilaterally fix the borders whether or not though talks with the Palestinians,"said Talal Oual, a Gaza-based Palestinian political observer."

    The new Israeli government will use the Hamas issue as an excuse for implementing Olmert's plan," he added. Olmert has announced his intention to draw the final borders with the Palestinians by 2010, unilaterally if necessary. The Israeli leader has also vowed to avoid all contacts with the Hamas government unless the group changes its hardline platform.

    Hamas, acronym of the Islamic Resistance Movement, has been sworn to destroy Israel and rejected agreements reached between the Palestinians and Israel in the past including the interim peace deals.

    The group now holds 74 seats in the 132-member parliament and has single-handedly formed the new cabinet since other factions including the Fatah movement refused to participate in a national coalition. Enditem