Crisis faces new Palestinian government
Unrest in Gaza prompted President Abbas' decision
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Sunday, 17, Jun 2007 09:38
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas swore in a new prime minister and emergency cabinet today as he seeks to restore law and order in Gaza and the West Bank.
The move, which comes after Mr Abbas declared a state of emergency on Friday, is likely to see the resumption of aid to Palestinians living in the West Bank.
However, Hamas has said it rejects Mr Abbas' planned administration. As the militant group controls the Gaza Strip the effective formation of two separate entities controlled by the rival factions appears likely, raising fears that those in Gaza will find themselves even more isolated than before.
Both sides spent yesterday consolidating their power in the territory they dominate while being persecuted in the other.
Fatah gunmen stormed the Palestinian parliament in the West Bank. In Gaza Hamas militants ransacked the home of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and confiscated weapons from Fatah members there.
Independent former finance minister Salam Fayyad will head up the 11 lawmakers of the new Palestinian cabinet, but its ability to control events on the ground remains uncertain.
But exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal says his organisation will continue to recognise the electoral mandate of Mr Abbas' presidency.
Crippling sanctions imposed on the Palestinian territories are to be lifted by the international community now the US has signaled its intention to end the ban.
Commenting on the new administration created at the instigation of Mr Abbas, US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "This is a government that intends to abide by the principles that previous Palestinian governments had prior to the Hamas-led government."
Western powers previously withdrew aid to the Palestinian territories after Hamas, viewed by the EU and US as a terrorist organisation, defeated Fatah in January 2006's parliamentary elections.