Abbas to lead interim government

The PLO executive committee issued a statement Wednesday, declaring that President Mahmoud Abbas has accepted to be head of the new transition government as an exceptional and temporary position,  adding that this government will be in place for only a few months  until the elections, and will be composed of independent non-partisan entities. As for the current political situation, the statement stressed the importance of “cooperation with all Arab and international bodies”   to agree to the borders as defined in  1967 as a basis for a "two-state solution”  and adhering to the agreements signed in Cairo and Doha “which will help to achieve a national conciliation". The statement also flagged up what was  agreed at the Palestinian groups meeting in Cairo last month which included commencing preparations for  the presidential, parliamentary and national council elections, and  assembling  a transition government lead by Abbas after settling on a  date for these elections. The statement urged the elections central committee to begin registering voters in Gaza and  the West Bank (including Jerusalem), and  requested that political organisations should not place any obstacles in the way which would prevent the work of this committee in order that elections can be held as swiftly as possible. The statement  went on to say that the executive committee is “proud of the significant contribution made by Palestinian women to our cause and to ensure complete equality for them” as outlined in the Palestinian independence declaration statement. “ We send our greetings to all  Palestinian women on this  International Women’s  Day, and we express our full support for the prisoner Hanaa Shalabi who is bravely resisting the Israeli suppression.”  We consider her case as a symbol for all our prisoners in occupation jails."