Special report:Internal situation in
Palestine
RAMALLAH, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian independent
lawmaker Mustafa al-Barghouti announced on Sunday a deal has been achieved over
who is going to lead the upcoming unity government, but he did not reveal the
name.
Al-Barghouti told Voice of Palestine radio that he
has agreed on the candidate who will head the new government and this point has
been overcome, but we will declare his name in the suitable time.
Al-Barghouti has mediated between the ruling Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas) and President Abbas' Fatah party to bridge wide gaps
between the two rivals.
After a string of meetings between both sides, a
general deal on forming a new coalition government has been announced.
The current talks are focusing on the shape and form of
the new government. Both Abbas and Haneya told reporters in separated occasions
that the unity government would be formed before the end of November.
Al-Barghouti revealed that he will travel to Gaza
later on Sunday to take part in the first meeting of a new committee formed to
outline the details of the new government which will include Hamas, Fatah and
other factions.
Meanwhile, an Arabic newspaper reported that the
governing Hamas will keep the portfolios of Interior and Finance in any upcoming
government, while the Foreign Affairs Ministry would be commissioned to Fatah.
London-based al-Hayyat newspaper quoted a source
named Mushieral-Masri as saying that the remaining portfolios would be
commissioned to the other factions and parliamentary blocs, adding that
prominent leaders of both Hamas and Fatah movements would not join the new
government.
In Gaza, the Palestinian media reported that an
academic Islamist is likely to be the new Prime Minister. Unidentified sources
were quoted as saying that Mohammed Shbair, 60, was presented to President
Mahmoud Abbas as the new premier.
Shbair used to be the president of the Islamic University
in Gaza before he retires.
Related:
Abbas expects unity gov't by end of
November
RAMALLAH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday that a national unity government was
expected to be declared before the end of November.
"I have good news for the Palestinian people that we
achieved a great progress in forming a national unity government that will be
able to end siege and open new horizons for a political solution that would end
occupation," Abbas said.
Abbas made the remarks at a ceremony to mark the
second anniversary of the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat,
which was also attended by ministers of the Hamas-led government and leaders of
different factions. Full story
Dialogue on forming Palestinian
national unity gov't resumes
GAZA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Talks on forming a
Palestinian national unity government resumed on Thursday, one day after Prime
Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas suspended the talks, a mediator said.
Mustafa al-Barghouti, an independent lawmaker who
mediated between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas, said that "talks on forming
a national unity government resumed and they were in full swing."
Al-Barghouti said that progress has been made and
most of controversial points have been settled, adding a general agreement has
been achieved on outlines of a new government and detailed were under
discussions. Full story
