Fayyad
FayyadIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack in the United States while visiting his son, his spokesman Jamal Zakout reported on Monday.

Zakout noted that Fayyad had undergone a catheterization after feeling pain in his chest, and it is estimated that he will be released from the hospital in Texas within two days' time.

Following the recent unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas, the question arose of whether Fayyad, who is a member of the Fatah movement, would continue to serve as Prime Minister. Hamas rejected the idea that Fayyad, who is considered to be too moderate by the terror group, would continue in his role in the new unity government but PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas sought to maintain his position.

Sources close to Abbas recently reported that a compromise had been reached, under which Abbas will hold the post of prime minister in the PA transitional government, while Fayyad and Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas) would be his deputies. Under this agreement, Fayyad would also assume the role of Minister of Finance.

Hamas and Fatah have reportedly agreed to this arrangement on condition that Haniyeh and Fayyad hold the same political weight in the new cabinet.