Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: Associated Press
Palestinian government to resign within 24 hours
Abbas announced resignation of technocrat unity government one year after its formation due to inability to work in the Gaza Strip.
Just one year after Hamas in Gaza and President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party in the West Bank announced their intention to form a unity government to end years of Palestinian conflict and division, local media reported Tuesday evening that the government in Ramallah would resign within 24 hours.
A political source in the West Bank confirmed the reports the Ynet and said that Abbas intended to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah early Wednesday morning.
The Palestinian government with Abbas at its head in Ramallah. (Photo: Reuters)
Abbas is expected to request that Hamdallah remain in his position to form the next government. The source also said that the government's resignation is due to its lack of ability to act in the Gaza strip and the roadblocks that Hamas have created for it.
It's still unclear if the goal of Abbas' announcement regarding the government was meant to pressure Hamas and lead to concessions on various issues related to the functioning of the government, or if he truly intends to form a new government.
The unity government created exactly one year ago was made up of technocrats with no political affiliation to Hamas or Fatah. It was made up of 20 government offices including 18 ministers besides Prime Minister Hamdallah.
