Talks on Palestinian national unity government reach decisive point: official

A Palestinian mediator between President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said on Thursday that talks on forming a national unity government had reached "a decisive point."

Lawmaker Mustafa al-Barghouti added in a statement faxed to the press that a unity government could see the light during the coming days "if true intentions were available."

Al-Barghouti made the statement after his meeting with Abbas in Ramallah and ahead of his visit to Gaza Strip where he would meet Haneya.

The Palestinian political factions have been involved in sporadic talks after they agreed to replace the incumbent Hamas- led government with a new one able to draw international aid and support. The talks had been off and on amid different proposals on the shape of the coming government.

Last month, Abbas said that he would like to see a temporary government of independent technocrats as talks between Abbas and Hamas leaders to form a unity government had been deadlocked over Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel.

However, Hamas rejects the idea of a technocrat government and insists on a national unity one comprising all political factions.

Hamas lawmaker Salah al-Bardawil said on Thursday that an agreement had been reached to dismiss the proposal of forming a technocrat government, repeating Hamas' call for a unity government based on the Prisoners Document of National Accordance.

For his part, Haneya told reporters on Thursday that the talks aimed at lifting siege on the Palestinians and end the state of disorder in the Palestinian territories were still underway.

Concerning the moves to form the new government, Haneya said the talks "would be easy if they maintained the Palestinian people 's interests, boosted the national unity and led to lift the siege. "

The international community had boycotted the Hamas-led government since it came to power in March for rejecting to recognize Israel and renounce violence.

Source: Xinhua