Palestinians swear in unity government
“Hamas says cabinet “represents all the Palestinian people” after oath-taking ceremony in Ramallah in the West Bank.”
Palestinians have sworn in a national consensus government, despite officials continuing to disagree over plans to close the Prisoner Affairs Ministry.
The ceremony at which the new cabinet took its oath was held on Monday in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
President Mahmoud Abbas praised the “end” of Palestinian division.
“Today, with the formation of a national consensus government, we announce the end of a Palestinian division that has greatly damaged our national case,” Abbas said at his Ramallah headquarters after the new cabinet was sworn in.
“We hail the national consensus government, which represents all the Palestinian people,” Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman, told AFP news agency.
Palestinian officials reported there was a dispute on Sunday, following Abbas’s plans to dissolve the Prisoner Affairs Ministry and tranfer responsibility for prisoner issues to a committee outside the control of the cabinet.
Earlier on Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, gave warning that the Hamas-Fatah deal to mend ties would strengthen “terrorism” in the Middle East.
“I call on all responsible elements in the international community not to rush to recognise a Palestinian government which has Hamas as part of it and which is dependent on Hamas,” he said.
Nabil Abu-Rudeineh, the presidential spokesperson, said the international community had already encouraged and welcomed Abbas’s move “aimed at the unification of the country and the Palestinian people”, according to the local news agency WAFA.
Abu-Rudeineh said the new government would also abide by Abbas’ political programme “which aims at achieving an independent state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Hamas has controlled the occupied Gaza Strip since 2007, when it removed Fatah after winning an election. Fatah controls areas of the West Bank.
The factions agreed in April to form a unity government, a move that led to Israel freezing US-brokered talks with Palestinian leaders.
Earlier on Saturday, Abbas said: “Israel wants to punish us for agreeing with Hamas on this government,” he said, adding that the Netanyahu administration would “boycott the government the moment it is announced”.
A Palestinian official said on Saturday that Israel had denied requests by three Gaza-based Palestinians, who are expected to be named as ministers, to attend Monday’s ceremony.
Israel pulled its troops out of Gaza in 2005 in a “disengagement”, but still controls the borders, sea and airspace.
The US and the EU, which are the largest donors to Palestinian agencies, have indicated they are willing to give the new unity government a chance.
The US, which considers Hamas a “terrorist group”, has said it will not make any decision on support until it has seen who is in the government.
Abbas has promised the cabinet will accept international calls to renounce violence and recognise Israel’s right to exist. (Aljazeera)