Palestinian Authority political analysts expect Hamas to appoint a PA chairman in Gaza, according to Al-Quds al-Arabi. The top candidate is senior PA official Ahmed Behar.

Behar will probably be appointed in January, when Hamas believes Mahmoud Abbas's term is over, the analysts said. Abbas has insisted that his term was meant to last until 2010.

The appointment of a PA chairman in Gaza would serve to deepen the rift between the Fatah-led PA in Judea and Samaria and the Hamas-led PA in Gaza, the report said.