Special to WorldTribune.com

RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority plans to delay another
government to enable Hamas to join.

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said he would renew consultations to form a
government with the opposition Hamas movement. Abbas said such a government
would comprise what he termed “independent technocrats” until the holding
of elections.

“President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he has decided to begin on
Saturday [April 27] consultations to form the national unity government,”
the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said.

In a statement on April 27, Abbas outlined his plans in wake of the
April 13 resignation of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who served since 2007. For two weeks, Abbas maintained silence as the Fatah leadership discussed whether to appoint another premier or re-invite Hamas to join a government.

On April 18, the PLO Executive Committee convened in Ramallah.

“The consultations will be held in accordance with the Doha Declaration
and in implementation of the timetable approved by Palestinian leadership in the meetings held in Cairo on Feb. 8 regarding activating and developing the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as the agreement on a date for
holding presidential, legislative and National Council elections,” Wafa said.

Abbas urged Hamas and other factions to reach a speedy agreement for a
unity government. He also called for a consensus on elections in the
Fatah-controlled West Bank and the Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip.

“President Abbas called on all forces and factions throughout the
country to cooperate in order to speed up this work so that he will be able
to issue two decrees — one to form a unity government of independent
technocrats and the other to set a date for holding elections since the
Central Elections Commission has completed its voter registry,” Wafa said.

Under PA law, Abbas has until late May to form a government. Officials
said Abbas might ask for an extension as he waits for Hamas to appoint a new
leadership in wake of elections that saw Khaled Masha’al return to the post
of political bureau chief. Masha’al has supported a government with Fatah.

  Abbas calls for unity government with ‘independent technocrats’, Doha Declaration, Hamas, Khaled Masha’al, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestine Liberation Organization, Salam Fayyad