Salah Al-Bardaweel, spokesperson of Hamas’ parliamentary bloc, said that Hamas will submit to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas three candidates for the post of minister of interior, from which Abbas will choose an individual for the post .Salah Al-Bardaweel, spokesperson of Hamas’ parliamentary bloc, said that Hamas will submit to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas three candidates for the post of minister of interior, from which Abbas will choose an individual for the post .
Al-Bardaweel, who refrained from revealing the names of the three nominees, said that two of the candidates are Marshals, while the third is civilian.
Meanwhile, senior Fatah official Tayyeb Abdul Rahim stated that Abbas will meet with Prime Minister designate Ismael Haniyeh on Tuesday night to discuss the nominees for the unity government.
Haniyeh said on Monday that he hopes the government will be declared before the weekend.
He added ‘we have overcome too many impediments that face the forming of the unity government in intensive talks between President Abbas and myself.’
Azzam Al-Ahmad, spokesperson of Fatah’s parliamentary bloc said that the bloc has submitted the names of six candidates to President Abbas for final approval.
Fatah nominated Mahmoud Al-Aloul, Amad Abu Holi, Issa Qaraqi’, Redwan Al Akhrass and female MP Rabiha Thiab in addition to Al-Ahmad who has been nominated for the Vice Premier post.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, told Abbas during a meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday that Israel intends to boycott a Palestinian coalition government if it does not meet the Quartet’s demands.
The Quartet for promoting peace in the Middle East, made up of United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia, has reiterated its one year-long position that any Palestinian government should recognize Israel, renounce violence and accepts signed peace deals.
The said demands are considered by the Quartet as preconditions for lifting an internationally-imposed embargo and resuming normal contacts with the Palestinian Authority.
The governing Hamas still rejects the demands, yet it has voiced willingness to respect previously signed agreements.
