Abbas threatens to act against Hamas

The new Palestinian government under Islamic terror group Hamas will be sworn in on Wednesday following its ratification, Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh said on Saturday.

The Palestinian Legislative Council is to convene on Monday for a confidence vote on the 24-member cabinet. Approval is seen as a certainty given that Hamas has a majority in parliament after a crushing election victory in January.

"On Wednesday at the latest there will be a special session for the government to be sworn in before Abu Mazen," Haniyeh said.

Meanwhile, the rift between PA Chairman Abbas and Haniyeh grew deeper Saturday, with Abbas hinting he was prepared to bring down Hamas' incoming government if the group's anti-Israel policies hurt the Palestinian people.

"I will exercise my mandate and authority where and when needed to protect the higher interests of the Palestinian people," Abbas wrote in the concluding paragraph of a two-page letter to Hamas' designated prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh.

He didn't elaborate, but the Palestinians' de facto constitution, known as the Basic Law, empowers the president to fire the prime minister and disband the government.

According to Secretary-General of the Palestinian presidency, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, Abbas made it clear in a letter to Haniyeh that "the democratic election, of which we are so proud, does not mean a reversal of the legal and diplomatic commitments of the Palestinian Authority and its principles as part of the Palestinian Liberation Movement." He added that Abbas warned Haniyeh from entering a collision course with the international community.

Abdel Rahim also stated that in his letter Abbas lamented the fact the Hamas movement has decided to disregards in drafting its government's guiding principles the clauses emphasized by the chairman. However, despite the threats Abbas plans to carry on with the legal process to approve the government in Parliament, set for Monday.

Hamas: Officials trying to create clash between us, Abbas

Meanwhile, presiding Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia arrived Saturday for a surprise visit in Gaza and met with Haniyeh. The two discussed ways to resolve the crisis and reach a compromise that would allow the two sides to operate and avoid a confrontation.

Hamas Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri charged that PA officials were trying to inflame the situation and create a clash between Hamas and Abbas.

Abu Zuhri denied the existence of a crisis between the two sides, but admitted that "the letter we received from Abbas contains some clauses Hamas needs to discuss, in order to complete the legal procedures required for assembling and swearing in the government." He also said that the group disagrees with claims its principles would bring to its isolation in the international community. According to Zuhri, Hamas was elected based on these plans and principles.