The Palestinian Authority rejected on Sunday any calls to treat members of the new cabinet in accordance with their party affiliation.

PA Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Sunday that all of the ministers were appointed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and that all are carrying out his policy. "We do not accept these classifications," Abu Rudeineh said. "The cabinet ministers are carrying out the platform of the entire government, not just that of their parties or political organizations," he stressed.

Abbas appointed Mohammed Dahlan as national security adviser on Sunday. Dahlan said the Palestinian National Security Council is to oversee all security services in the PA. He also said that he and the new interior minister, Hani Qawasmeh, will draft a plan to end the factional fighting within the Palestinian territories.

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The PNSC will be headed by Abbas. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh will be his deputy. Dahlan was named secretary. Abbas is authorized to appoint the remaining members of the council, probably senior cabinet ministers.

Abbas' decision to create the PNSC and appoint Dahlan as national security adviser are seen as an attempt by the PA chair to tighten his control over the various Palestinian security forces.

Dahlan said Sunday that the move was aimed at achieving a united force that would carry out the strategy set by the council. He hinted that there are no plans to dismantle the Executive Force Hamas created in Gaza. "We will start with the most pressing issues," Dahlan said. "As long as the Executive Force is not acting illegally, we will examine our priorities."

The new cabinet held its first meeting on Sunday, which took place simultaneously in Gaza City and in the West Bank city of Ramallah, via a video conferencing link.

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