By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The European Union's top diplomat, Javier Solana, said Sunday he was optimistic Palestinian political factions could soon agree on forming a unity government and meet international demands to recognize Israel as a peace partner.
Speaking after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Solana said an agreement could be days away if talks between the Hamas-led Palestinian government and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas go well.
"He (Abbas) is working very well on the possiblity of constructing the elements of a government," Solana told reporters. He said he foresaw the Palestinian cabinet to be "a government of experts, a government of professionals."
"I hope very much that at the end of a few days we will have news about the possiblity of that initiative," Solana said.
Solana, who is on the last leg of a six-day tour of the Mideast to spur peace efforts, met with Abbas in Ramallah on Thursday. Palestinian officials said Abbas would dissolve the Hamas-led government within two weeks if the group does not agree to form a governing coalition with his Fatah Party.
Under a proposal being drafted by Abbas, a new Palestinian government would be led by neutral business and other leaders without direct links to either Hamas or Fatah, according to EU officials.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store