Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

    GAZA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked leaders of Syria and Qatar to exert pressure on Hamas' exiled Chief Khaled Mashaal in order to speed up the formation of unity government, Palestinian media reported on Sunday.

    The appeal was made during a meeting between Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas in Gaza on Saturday night. Mohammed Shubair, the most fortunate candidate to lead the upcoming government, attended the meeting for the first time.

    Sources close to the President Abbas said that Abbas was desirous to agree with Hamas on a platform that could secure immediate lift of sanctions on the Palestinian people. He also wants the upcoming government to be acceptable to the International community, especially European donors.

    Earlier, Hamas' politburo chief Khaled Mashaal said his movement will never recognize Israel even if a Palestinian statehood was established.

    However, current Hamas-led government faces aid cutoff and political boycott from the world because it does not recognize the Jewish state.

    Meanwhile, talks between Hamas and Fatah continued in Gaza city after the two rivals agreed on forming a broader administration. Majed Abu Shamala, a lawmaker from Fatah, denied news reports about names of people expected to take post in the coming government.

    "The joint committees of Fatah and Hamas have not yet talk about the ministers," Abu Shamala said in a statement.

    Earlier reports said President Abbas rejects that Hamas would be in charge of the interior ministry of the new government. The reports also spoke about controversy between Abbas' Fatah and Hamas over the key portfolios.

    The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Sunday criticized Hamas and Fatah for not inviting other factions to join the talks on the government of national unity. "This shows national pluralism only between the tow factions," said Kayed al-Ghoul, leader of the PFLP.