Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas intends to ask his prime minister to form a new government without Hamas, a close aide conveyed Thursday. Abbas sees slim chances for progress in unity talks with rival Hamas. "If they (Hamas) continue like this, it could last for years," Yasser Abed Rabbo was quoted as saying by the AP.
He noted that the new cabinet will get "external support." According to him, the next round of Fatah- Hamas talks will take place on May 16.
Meanwhile, Israel will transfer $12 million into the Gaza Strip, an Israeli official confirmed on Thursday. According to Reuters, the transfer will represent 25% of the amount the Palestinian government said it needed to pay wages. It was the first time the cash transfer was approved by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
