Hamas, Fatah strike deal on ministers in new Palestinian unity government

Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzouk said that the agreement was reached during last week’s discussions in the Gaza Strip.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Hamas and Fatah leaders hold their hands after announcing a reconciliation agreement (photo credit: REUTERS)
Hamas and Fatah leaders hold their hands after announcing a reconciliation agreement
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Hamas and Fatah have reached agreement on the names of the ministers who would serve in a new Palestinian unity government, Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzouk announced Saturday.
Abu Marzouk said that the agreement was reached during last week’s discussions between the two parties in the Gaza Strip.
Representatives of the Fatah and Hamas said last week that they expect the unity government to be announced before the end of this month.
Azzam al-Ahmed, a senior Fatah official, last week visited the Gaza Strip, where he held talks with Hamas leaders concerning the make-up of the unity government. 
Last month, the two parties signed a “reconciliation” agreement that envisages the establishment of a unity government within five weeks. 
Abu Marzouk said that the Fatah official visited the Gaza Strip to lay the final touches on the agreement regarding the composition of the unity government. 
He said that the Fatah official was expected to return to the Gaza Strip later this week for further discussions with Hamas leaders on the formation of the government.
The Hamas leader predicted that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would return to the Gaza Strip after the formation of the unity government.
In a related development, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called on Abbas not to succumb to Israeli threats following the signing of the Fatah-Hamas deal.
Barhoum said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s recent statement that Abbas should choose between Israel and Hamas is a “sign of the bankruptcy of the Israeli government.”
The Hamas spokesman said that these threats “confirm that the Zionist enemy is the main cause behind Palestinian division.”