Published 02:19 10.05.09
Latest update 05:14 10.05.09

Abbas to ask Fayyad to form new Fatah-left government

Emergency cabinet, formed for duration of now failed Hamas-Fatah power-sharing talks, to be disbanded.

By Avi Issacharoff Tags: Salam Fayyad Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas Israel news

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to ask Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to form a new government including Abbas' Fatah party and left-wing organizations. The new team would replace an emergency cabinet consisting of non-Fatah independents close to Fayyad.

Fadwa Barghouti, the wife of Marwan Barghouti, the leader of Fatah's Tanzim faction, could become a cabinet member. The Tanzim leader is currently in prison in Israel.

Abbas has recently been criticized by Fatah colleagues for not getting the prime minister to appoint Fatah-affiliated ministers.

Fayyad had submitted his resignation several months ago as head of the emergency cabinet in advance of renewed contacts between Hamas and Fatah in Egypt. He said he would stay on as the talks progressed.

But the negotiations have foundered, so Abbas decided to form the new broadly-based government.

Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshal called on Abbas on Saturday not to ask Fayyad to form a new government without Hamas on board. Officials from Hamas and Fatah are due to meet in Cairo on May 16 for another round of reconciliation talks.

Palestinian commentators say Abbas will unveil the new government before his departure for meetings with the U.S. administration in Washington later this month.

Split in the ranks

At the same time, there is a major split in Fatah over a proposal to hold a conference to choose new leadership for the organization. It would be the first such conference in 10 years. There is even disagreement over the composition of representation at the meeting, including opposition to a proposal that would reserve two-thirds of the seats for veteran Fatah leaders.

The left-wing organizations in the new government would include the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

A Hamas senior official, meanwhile, said on Saturday that he expects Egypt will next week resume its efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and armed Palestinian groups.