Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C)
stands among the new unity government after they are sworn in in Gaza
March 17, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
GAZA/RAMALLAH, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a new unity government Saturday evening, with
25 members, including Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas, taking oath in Gaza
City and Ramallah.
As Israel prevents Hamas ministers from traveling
between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the ceremony was held simultaneously
in the two cities via video conference link.
Haneya and 12 ministers took oath in Gaza City while
Deputy Prime Minister Azzam al-Ahamd took oath in Ramallah with 11 ministers.
Twenty-four members were Muslims and took oath over
the holy book of Quran. In Ramallah, the only Christian minister swore in over
the Bible.
The ceremony was held hours after the parliament
overwhelmingly approved the first coalition government that comprises Hamas and
Fatah rivals.
Israel holds 41 Palestinian legislators, mostly from
Hamas, out of 132 members.
The new government was formed after Hamas and Fatah
reached a power-sharing deal in the Saudi city of Mecca last month, ending
months of fighting that erupted after Hamas took office last year.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya
(L) is sworn in by President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza March 17, 2007. (Xinhua
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- In the wake of
formation of the newly-appointed Palestinian unity government, the United States
would continue to shun the Hamas ministers but permit contacts with non-Hamas
members, local Ha'aretz said on Sunday, citing the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
speaks during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday March. 18,
2007. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on the international
community to continue boycotting the newly-born Palestinian national unity
government. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday called on the international community to continue
boycotting the newly-born Palestinian national unity government,local media
reported.
GAZA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday slammed an Israeli decision to
continue boycotting the new Palestinian national unity government that took
office on Saturday.
GAZA, March 18 (Xinhua) - Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas and incoming Prime Minister Ismail Haneya chaired on Sunday the
first cabinet meeting of the new national unity coalition in Gaza City.
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli cabinet
on Sunday voted overwhelmingly to uphold Israel's boycott of the new Palestinian
national unity government, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported.
GAZA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- An international network of aid embargo on the Palestinians began collapsing shortly after the national unity government was sworn in, new Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa al-Barghouti said on Sunday.
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