Israel to boycott Palestinian unity government: Abbas

 Israel has officially informed the Palestinian side that it will boycott the new Palestinian unity government, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said.

"Israel is punishing us because we agreed with Hamas movement to achieve internal reconciliation and end internal division that we have always been looking forward," Abbas said when he was receiving 73 French peace activists at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday (May 31).

"We deal with the whole issue step-by-step. We wont respond to the Israeli decision because we dont want to be the first to respond, but we will react to any Israeli action and we will respond to it." Abbas added.

The Palestinian president said that he will never regret the reconciliation with Hamas, and that the new government will see the light on Monday.

"The new government will include technocrats ministers, who have no ties with Fatah, Hamas or any other political factions," Abbas said. He clarified that his policy is "recognizing Israel, condemning terrorism and recognizing the international conventions and resolutions."

On Thursday Abbas designated Ramai Hamdallah to form the unity government, which was agreed upon with Hamas in Gaza last month, despite differences on the portfolios of foreign affairs and the prisoners.

Earlier on Saturday Azzam el-Ahmad, head of Fatah Partys delegation to the dialogue with Hamas, announced that the unity government will be declared on Monday, adding that the cabinet will include 15 to 17 ministers. 

Source: ANTARA