Israel rejects Palestinian unity govt

“We hope that the international community will stand steadfast behind its own principles and refuse to give legitimacy or recognition to this extreme government,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.

Haniyeh told reporters the government list would be submitted to parliament for a confidence vote on Saturday.

“I handed the president the names of brothers, ministers of the unity government, and he thankfully accepted it,” Haniyeh said in a joint news conference with Fatah leader Abbas.

Haniyeh said if the parliament approved the cabinet lineup it might be submitted to Abbas the same day so that the long-awaited government could start work.

The key post of deputy prime minister will be filled by Azzam al-Ahmad of Fatah, a close Abbas adviser and long-time political foe of Hamas. Pro-Western economist Salam Fayyad will be finance minister and Ziad Abu Amr, a political science professor, will be foreign minister.

Platform of the new coalition

Key excerpts from the draft of the Palestinian unity government’s platform, proposed by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and released on Thursday by Hamas sources.

• The platform states “resistance is a legitimate right for the Palestinian people that is guaranteed by all international conventions. Our people have the right to defend themselves before any Israeli aggression.”

• The unity government will “respect” past agreements signed with Israel and “respect” international resolutions.

• The government is committed to “ensuring the right of return of Palestinian refugees” to their original homes from which they fled or were forced to flee in what is now Israel.

• The platform states that “stability and peace in the region are dependent on ending all forms of occupation in the Palestinian territories, including removing the racist wall, settlements and stopping the Judaisation of Jerusalem.”

• The platform states the new government will not agree to the creation of a Palestinian state with provisional borders.

• The government will seek to “maintain and broaden” the current ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip “in return for Israel’s cessation of its occupation measures… such as assassinations, arrests, incursions, house demolition, clearing of lands, excavation in Jerusalem,” and for the “lifting of checkpoints and reopening of crossing points, the ending of travel restrictions and the release of prisoners.”

• The government authorises Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah to handle negotiations with Israel, “based on the commitment to achieve Palestinian national goals”, and to present any “fateful” agreement to a national vote.