Speaking to the PA-based Ma'an news agency on Monday, the spokesman for Hamas in the PA legislature said, "The dialogue, which will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, will discuss every detail in order to reach a final agreement in this regard." The spokesman, Salah Bardawil, said that the ongoing Hamas-Fatah talks are taking place in a positive and encouraging atmosphere, adding that, with good intentions on both sides, "the government will be announced immediately after the end of the meetings between Abbas and Haniyeh."
The formation of a unified government made up of representatives from both the Islamist terrorist Hamas organization and the nominally secular Fatah terrorist organization is seen by the PA leaders as a necessary step to obtain renewed financial aid from the world community. Western sanctions were placed on aid to the PA ever since Hamas took the reins of power in March 2006. Renewed funding has been linked to a PA commitment to cease support for acts of terrorism, to recognize Israel and to ratify past agreements with Israel that were signed by the PA or the PLO.
While details of the proposed coalition guidelines under discussion are yet to be formalized, leaks regarding the main points indicate that there will be a division of government positions leaving Hamas with a majority of the ministries. In addition, PA sources said that the new government will not recognize Israel explicitly, but will include in its platform vague language in that regard.
Among the issues that remain to be decided are the identity of the PA prime minister in such a coalition regime. The incumbent Hamas government leader, Haniyeh, agreed to step down. A name that has been raised with some positive media spin from inside the PA is Dr. Bassem Naim. He is the current PA minister of health and a preferred Hamas candidate for the leadership position.
A spokesman for the PA government denied that any particular names were agreed upon as potential candidates, saying that the issue of the prime minister is dependent on many other issues that remain to be settled in the Tuesday night meeting.
Another issue that may be raised in the Abbas-Haniyeh talks is a public request made by Abbas that Hamas terrorists release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit into his custody. Abbas made his appeal during an interview with the Saudi Arabian, London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. Abbas, head of the Fatah terrorist organization, said that with Shalit in his hands, he would be able to more effectively negotiate the release of Arabs in Israeli jails.
Corporal Shalit was captured by Hamas terrorists on June 25, during a raid on an army outpost near the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza. The Damascus-based head of the organization's political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, vowed Tuesday to continue abductions of Israeli soldiers until all Arab prisoners in Israel are freed.
The formation of a unified government made up of representatives from both the Islamist terrorist Hamas organization and the nominally secular Fatah terrorist organization is seen by the PA leaders as a necessary step to obtain renewed financial aid from the world community. Western sanctions were placed on aid to the PA ever since Hamas took the reins of power in March 2006. Renewed funding has been linked to a PA commitment to cease support for acts of terrorism, to recognize Israel and to ratify past agreements with Israel that were signed by the PA or the PLO.
While details of the proposed coalition guidelines under discussion are yet to be formalized, leaks regarding the main points indicate that there will be a division of government positions leaving Hamas with a majority of the ministries. In addition, PA sources said that the new government will not recognize Israel explicitly, but will include in its platform vague language in that regard.
Among the issues that remain to be decided are the identity of the PA prime minister in such a coalition regime. The incumbent Hamas government leader, Haniyeh, agreed to step down. A name that has been raised with some positive media spin from inside the PA is Dr. Bassem Naim. He is the current PA minister of health and a preferred Hamas candidate for the leadership position.
A spokesman for the PA government denied that any particular names were agreed upon as potential candidates, saying that the issue of the prime minister is dependent on many other issues that remain to be settled in the Tuesday night meeting.
Another issue that may be raised in the Abbas-Haniyeh talks is a public request made by Abbas that Hamas terrorists release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit into his custody. Abbas made his appeal during an interview with the Saudi Arabian, London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. Abbas, head of the Fatah terrorist organization, said that with Shalit in his hands, he would be able to more effectively negotiate the release of Arabs in Israeli jails.
Corporal Shalit was captured by Hamas terrorists on June 25, during a raid on an army outpost near the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza. The Damascus-based head of the organization's political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, vowed Tuesday to continue abductions of Israeli soldiers until all Arab prisoners in Israel are freed.