The current Hamas-led Palestinian government will be dissolved within 48 hours and a new prime minister appointed, a Palestinian Authority spokesman said Monday. The new government is expected to be a unity government including both Hamas and Fatah factions.

"Hopefully in the coming days we will begin forming the government of national unity," the spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeinah said.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in response that Abbas "can establish a government in any manner he pleases, but Hamas is a terror organization, and in order for it to become legitimate, it must accept the conditions of the Quartet, including recognizing Israel."

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In a press conference held following her meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos, Livni said that if Abbas "joins the terror government headed by Hamas, we will have a problem."

Livni added that what mattered was whether the unity government met the West's three conditions for restoring aid. The conditions are recognizing Israel, renouncing terror and abiding by previous Palestinian Authority agreements with Israel.

She urged the international community not to waver in demanding acceptance of those terms.

The Palestinians hope a unity coalition will lead to the lifting of international sanctions that have stalled the functioning of the current government.

"We are very, very close to the establishment of a unity government," said an advisor to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Monday.

The progress in talks between Hamas and Fatah came after Haniyeh agreed to indirect recognition of Israel by accepting a 2002 Arab peace initiative as part of the platform for a unity government with Fatah, Hamas representatives indicated Monday.

The head of the Hamas parliamentary faction, Salah El-Bardaweil, said that the group's political stance is based on the "prisoners document," as well as the 2002 Arab League peace initiative.

"There will always be a role for us in future diplomatic processes," Bardaweil said.

Haniyeh's acceptance of the Arab initiative as is would be a dramatic turning point and would signal the legitimization of negotiations with Israel and recognition of its existence within the 1967 borders.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Monday that, "Hamas will continue to have its political agenda... we will never recognize the legitimacy of the occupation."

In an interview with the Palestinian Ma'an news agency, Bardaweil said Abbas requested clarification of Hamas' stance regarding the Arab peace initiative as well as on previous agreements signed by the PLO.

Hamas representatives said in response that it would be possible to use the Arab peace initiative to serve the Palestinians' national interests.

Abbas also asked Hamas to find a formula that would bring about the end of the political boycott of the Palestinian Authority, sparked by Hamas' policies on Israel, and envisioned the foundation of a unity government as fundamental to ending the embargo.

Haniyeh said earlier Monday that he and Abbas were close to agreeing a unity government with Abbas.

"We are going ahead to form a national unity government," Haniyeh told players from the Palestinian national soccer team.

Palestinians hope the creation of a unity coalition will lead to the lifting of the sanctions imposed on the six-month-old Hamas government for refusing to recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by previous interim peace agreements.

Asked by reporters when an announcement of a unity government would be made, Haniyeh said, "hopefully in the nearest time possible."

He described the late-night talks Sunday with Abbas as "positive and fruitful."

Hamas, whose charter calls for Israel's destruction, has so far resisted international pressure and calls by Abbas to soften its policy toward Israel.

But Fatah officials said a breakthrough had been Hamas' willingness to accept United Nations resolutions relating to the Middle East conflict and decisions from previous Arab summits.